Hachette Children's signs two from Penguin publicist Kate Gilby Smith

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired two middle-grade fiction titles by debut author Kate Gilby Smith, to be published on the Orion Children's Book imprint. 

Lena McCauley, commissioning editor, bought world rights (excluding Italy) from Chloe Seager at the Madeleine Milburn Agency.

The Astonishing Future of Alex Nobody is a "wish-fulfilling time-travelling adventure". When Alex discovers that time-tourists have been travelling back in time to catch a glimpse of her, she realises that sometime in the future she becomes famous, but she has no idea why. When her friend Jasper disappears, Alex will have to brave time-travel herself to discover what's happened to him and to unravel the secret of her destiny.

The Astonishing Future of Alex Nobody will be published in paperback on 10th June 2021.

McCauley said: "I absolutely love Kate’s unexpected approach to time-travel, which doesn’t see Alex traveling into the past—but instead into her own exciting future. I can’t wait for readers to be inspired by Alex’s story and discover the magic of their own astonishing futures."

Smith added: "I'm beyond excited to be published by the team at Hachette Children’s Group. From the start, I wanted to write a book that encourages children to be curious, dream big and embrace their talents and interests, even when they make them stand out."

Smith currently works as a publicist for Penguin Press, working on science, philosophy and history books for adults.