Firefly Press swoops for Beacham's 'gloriously gothic' middle-grade novel

Firefly Press has swooped for The Doll Twin, a "delightfully eerie" middle-grade novel by Janine Beacham. 

Editor Leonie Lock acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada and the US, and audio rights from Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency. The book is slated for publication in spring 2024. 

The synopsis for The Doll Twin reads: "An orphaned lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Una Wexford is delighted to be adopted after the Great War by the kindly Smiths. However, their old house, Copperlins, seems to be haunted; Una’s friend is terrified by a midnight apparition, and the old carousel plays by itself. Then Una discovers a life-sized doll copy of herself: Ani, the Animated Curiosity. The Smiths are thrilled by her, and Una increasingly fears being supplanted by the Doll Twin. But is Ani really the danger? The truth is worse than anything Una can possibly imagine."

"Janine’s writing oozes atmosphere," commented Lock. "Her attention to detail and unique creativity reminded me of reading A Series of Unfortunate Events as a child. With a twist that will leave readers gasping, I cannot wait for this gloriously gothic tale to hit the shelves."

Beacham added: "I am thrilled that The Doll Twin has found a home with Firefly. This story is packed with things I love; spooky old houses, carousels, lighthouses and eerie goings-on. I hope Una and Ani’s tale will scare readers stiff – and put them off exploring a house with a torch at midnight."