S&S Children's bags Bello's YA debut in six-figure pre-empt

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has pre-empted YA debut Love in Winter Wonderland, a "true celebration of Black love, laughter and happily ever afters", from Carnegie Prize-nominated author Abiola Bello.

The book is the first of three seized in a six-figure pre-empt by commissioning editor Amina Youssef, who bought world rights from Gemma Cooper at the Bent Agency. The book will publish in November 2022, and be accompanied by a major marketing and publicity campaign. 

Described as an "unputdownable Christmas romance", the story is set in a Black-owned Hackney bookshop and follows family bookseller Trey Anderson and Christmas temp worker Ariel Spencer, as they embark on a "hate-to-love journey".

"When Trey and Ariel learn that Wonderland is on the brink of shutting down, can they get over their differences and team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline?" the synopsis reads.

Youssef said: "I’ve been searching high and low for a gooey, hooky YA romcom – so when Love in Winter Wonderland landed one cold wintry day, I jumped with joy because I knew, finally, I had found what I’d been looking for. I could see the sparks between Trey and Ariel flying off the page, could taste the snow in the air and could hear the distinctive chatter of a busy bookshop. It’s a true celebration of Black love, laughter and happily ever afters, and I’m over the moon that Abiola’s incredibly accomplished book will be taking pride of place on the formidable S&S YA list."

Bello's middle grade, Emily Knight I Am . . .  Awakened (Hashtag Press) was nominated for the CILIP’s Carnegie Award, won London’s BIG Read, and was a finalist for the People’s Book Prize Best Children’s Book. She won the London Book Fair Trailblazer Award 2018 and is the founder of the Lil’ Author School, co-founder of the Author School, Hashtag Press, Hashtag BLAK and the Diverse Book Awards.

She said: "I’m so excited to be published by S&S – what a dream! This is my first YA, which I wrote during a period of raw grief after losing my father early this year. But clearly writing till the early hours of the morning and listening to 'O Holy Night' on repeat paid off. This deal has legit changed my life and I’m so thankful to my agent, Gemma, and my editor, Amina, for believing in me and this book. Featuring areas that I love and have grown up in like Dalston, Angel and my beloved Stoke Newington was really important to me, as was showcasing characters like Trey and Ariel, who I hope readers will fall in love with. Bring on the Christmas love affair!"