Alderman and Dawson to write Doctor Who tales

Naomi Alderman and Juno Dawson are both contributing to Penguin Random House's "Doctor Who" publishing this autumn, celebrating the debut of Jodie Whittaker as the "Thirteenth Doctor".

Alderman has written a short story for inclusion in the anthology Thirteen Doctors, 13 Stories (BBC Children's Books) featuring Whittaker’s Thirteenth Doctor battling to save the universe.

Building on the existing 12 Doctors, 12 Stories anthology, Alderman's work joins previously published short stories from writers such as Malorie Blackman and Neil Gaiman, publishing on 1st November. Ruth Knowles and Tom Rawlinson of PRH Children’s acquired world rights to the story from Veronique Baxter. 

"Believe it or not, my first ever rejection letter, dated 1992, was from Doctor Who Magazine for a story I wrote as a teenager obsessed with the Doctor," said Alderman. "I've loved Doctor Who since I was a child, so it's particularly meaningful and exciting for me to be adding my name to this anthology."

Alderman, who recently moved from PRH to 4th Estate in a four book-deal, has already written for the Doctor Who universe after her novel Borrowed Time was published by BBC Books in 2011. A new paperback reissue of this book, as well as a new edition of Jenny Colgan's collected Doctor Who stories, will be released with newly designed covers by David Wardle on 19th July to mark the opening of this year’s San Diego ComicCon. 

Dawson is meanwhile authoring one of the first novels to feature the Thirteenth Doctor, The Good Doctor (also BBC Children's Books). She said it felt "like a bold era for Doctor Who" and "a dream come true" to be part of it. It publishes on 25th October alongside two other Thirteenth Doctor adventures, The Molten Heart by Una McCormack and Combat Magicks by Steve Cole.

Albert DePetrillo, BBC Books publishing director, said: “The excitement that’s building around the new series of Doctor Who is remarkable, and Jodie Whittaker is helping usher in a whole new era of vibrant, inclusive storytelling ... We can’t wait for them to introduce a whole new generation of fans to the wonders of the Whoniverse.”