Canongate bags two more from Agbabi's Leap Cycle series

Canongate has acquired the third and fourth instalments in Patience Agbabi’s Leap Cycle series for middle-grade readers.

The books form the final part of Agbabi’s planned tetralogy of novels for Canongate, all following the adventures of Elle Bíbi-Imbelé Ifíè. The first book in the series, The Infinite, was longlisted for this year’s Branford Boase Award, while The Time-Thief, the second in the series, was released on 6th May. Both were published by Canongate.

Commissioning editor Jo Dingley acquired world rights including audio in the next two books, The Circle Breakers and another untitled novel, from Simon Trewin at Simon Trewin Ltd.

Dingley said: “I could not be more delighted to be continuing Elle’s journey with Patience, and to be launching two more thrilling, time-twisting novels into the world. Patience is a naturally gifted children’s writer and I feel incredibly lucky to be working with her on this series.”

Agbabi, who is the author of four collections of poetry, added: “I’m thrilled Canongate will be publishing books three and four of the Leap Cycle, as working with Jo Dingley and the team has been invaluable to my development as a novelist. Elle and her friends are real to me: I can’t wait for them to step up to greater time-travelling challenges and come of age.”

A dynamic marketing and publicity campaign is planned for The Time-Thief, with Agbabi talking about the book on "CBBC Book Club", BBC Radio 3's "Free Thinking", Fun Kids Radio and more in the coming weeks. There will also be advertising running on Fun Kids Radio, Gransnet, Teach Primary and across social media, alongside children’s library book group outreach via The Reading Agency. Books three and four in the series are planned for release in 2022 and 2023.