Debuts by Lupo and Stark-McGinnis to Bloomsbury

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has bought two debut fiction novels ahead of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

We are Blood and Thunder by Kesia Lupo, an editor at Chicken House, is a YA fantasy about two young women - Lena, who is running from her life after being convicted as mage, and Constance, who escaped years ago before her powers were discovered.

Senior commissioning editor Zöe Griffiths acquired world rights for two titles from Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates. We are Blood and Thunder will publish in the UK in April 2019 with a second stand-alone fantasy planned for 2020.

Another editor, Alison Moore, has bought world rights to Extraordinary Birds by US debut writer Sandy Stark-McGinnis.

The Middle Grade novel is about eleven-year-old December who knows everything about birds, and everything about getting kicked out of foster homes. All she has left of her biological mum is the message: "In flight is where you'll find me." When she's placed at new foster home, December begins to see herself and what home means in a new light.

Moore struck a deal for two books from Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and will publish Extraordinary Birds in the UK and US in spring next year.

Rebecca McNally, publishing director and international editor-in-chief at Bloomsbury Children’s, said: “It is exciting to come to Bologna with these extraordinary debuts, two very different books that demonstrate Bloomsbury’s global commitment to finding and nurturing the very best writing talent. We Are Blood and Thunder will captivate and enchant you, Extraordinary Birds will make your heart soar. We can’t wait to share these debuts with readers and expect to see very strong translation interest at the fair.”