Egmont buys debut fantasy trilogy

Egmont has bought a middle-grade fantasy adventure trilogy, entitled The Huntress, by debut author Sarah Driver.

Ali Dougal, editorial director for fiction, bought world rights to three books from Jodie Hodges at United Agents at auction. Book one, The Huntress: Sea, will be published in April 2017 (p/b, £6.99) with book two coming in Autumn 2017.

“The Huntress” is the name of a ship where 13-year-old Mouse lives with her grandma, father and brother, Sparrow. However, one day Mouse’s father goes missing and her brother is in danger.  

Dougal said: “At Egmont we believe that middle grade fiction can turn children into readers for life. Sarah’s rich world and her characters’ incredible journeys will fire children’s imaginations and inspire them to read for pleasure. Sarah’s will be the most distinctive new voice in middle grade fiction in 2017 and we’re thrilled to welcome her exceptional debut to our list.”

Driver is a nurse and midwife and a graduate of the Bath Spa Writing for Young People MA, where she won the prize for most promising writer in 2014.