Greig signs two more with Egmont

Egmont has inked a two-book deal with children’s author Louise Greig.

Between Tick and Tock will be illustrated by Greig’s previous collaborator, Ashling Lindsay, an illustrator and animation director from Belfast, while Sweep sees Greig join forces for the first time with Júlia Sardà, an “incredible new artist” from Barcelona.

Melissa Fairley, publishing director for Egmont’s picture book and gift division, signed the deal for world rights for Between Tick and Tock with Greig and Stein at the Bright Agency. The deal for world rights for Sweep was signed with Greig and Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink. 

Both titles will be published on Egmont’s picture book and gift list. Between Tick and Tock will be published on 31st May 2018 in paperback for £6.99, while Sweep is slated for 27th July 2018 with an r.r.p. of £6.99.

Between Tick and Tock is billed as “an enchanting story about a little girl who can pause time to carry out acts of kindness and breathe colour, life and happiness back into the city”. It is the second book from Aberdeen-based Greig and Lindsay and promises “lyrical storytelling” which highlights the magic in everyday experiences as well as “gorgeous illustrations”. The pair's debut, The Night Box, was published by Egmont in June, was translated into 10 languages and has been nominated for the 2018 Kate Greenaway Award.

Sweep is “an uplifting story about confronting big emotions” featuring Sardà following the character of Ed whose bad mood “grows and grows, it sweeps over him like a raging storm”.

Sardà created the cover illustration for M G Leonard's Beetle Boy (Chicken House) and has worked with various publishers across Europe and the UK, including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Harper Collins, Faber & Faber and Nosy Crow.

Rebecca Essilifie, art director at Egmont, said: "Júlia Sardà is an exceptional artist and I was very keen to sign her to our exciting picture book list – paired with Louise Greig, we have a distinctive and ingenious collaboration that makes Sweep a real standout book for children."

Between Tick and Tock, the second of the original two-book deal announced in January 2017 between Egmont, Greig and Lindsay, will follow in spring 2018.