Faber to posthumously publish Saunders' final children's novel

Faber has acquired A Drop of Golden Sun, the final novel for children by Costa Award-winning author Kate Saunders.

Associate publisher Alice Swan acquired world rights from Millie Hoskins at United Agents, and the book will be published in paperback on 7th March 2024.

The synopsis says: "Brimming with joy and adventure, A Drop of Golden Sun, set in 1973, follows 12-year-old child actor Jenny, who has just been cast in a major motion picture. An actor in her youth, Kate Saunders’ depiction of the world behind the cameras is irresistible.

"Publishing almost a year after Kate’s death, A Drop of Golden Sun is an important and beautiful novel that features all the best loved qualities of her writing."

Swan said: "It is a great honour to be able to round off Kate’s incredible writing career with this posthumous publication of a dazzling last novel. Kate’s wicked sense of humour, her expansive imagination and her razor-sharp prose made her one of the best writers for children of all time.

"She will be greatly missed by all at Faber. Personally, she had become a dear friend and I will miss laughing and plotting with her, and discussing the intricacies of children’s literature of which Kate was a fount of knowledge. It was an immense privilege to bask in her brilliance for the 16 years we worked together. Long may her wonderful books stay on the shelves."

Louisa Saunders, from The Estate of Kate Saunders, added: "This was a story very close to Kate’s heart. Kate was a big fan of ’The Sound of Music’ and the idea for the book first took root when she saw a moving documentary some years ago, about the lasting bond formed among the young cast of the film.

"This book has all the humanity, humour and pace Kate’s young readers have come to expect from her, and her last novel may be her best ever. I wish with all my heart that Kate was here to see it published, but feel glad she was able to finish it before she died."

Saunders began her career as a professional actor but moved into journalism following the publication of her first novel, The Prodigal Father (Jonathan Cape), for which she won the Betty Trask Award. Saunders won the Costa Children’s Book Award for Five Children on the Western Front (Faber), a contribution to the classic fantasy series by E Nesbit. She was twice shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal with Five Children on the Western Front and The Land of Neverendings (Faber).