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Hachette Children's snaps up Leeds' middle-grade fantasy in three-book deal
Hachette Children’s has snapped up Jayben and the Golden Torch, the first in a middle-grade fantasy series by Thomas Leeds.
Polly Lyall-Grant, senior commissioning editor, acquired world rights from Abi Fellows and Callen Martin at The Good Literary Agency. The first novel will be published on 2nd February 2023 followed by two more titles in February 2023 and February 2025 respectively.
Leeds lost his childhood memories and developed epilepsy after sustaining a brain injury when he was hit by a taxi aged 19. Yet 11 years later, when he heard the first line of The Waterboys song "The Whole of the Moon" Leeds’ memories began to resurface and became the inspiration for his fantasy series. Jayben and the Golden Torch is a "story of courage, hope and friendship" about a boy with no memories and a world only he can save.
The synopsis reads: "In the Earth world, a boy dreams of faraway lands to escape life with his horrible aunt. In the Elf world, he wakes up with a mysterious golden torch but without any clue who he is…except for the compass he pulls from his pocket, engraved with one name: Jayben. Jayben discovers that many moons ago, a giant put a dark spell on the golden torch, and the elves forgot everything that had come before. Now they hang precious memories in jars on trees, just to try to remember. But a new darkness grows among them… An evil villain called Null is burning down the forests, hellbent on finding the torch and becoming the most powerful being ever to live. If Jayben can find his own magic and ignite the torch with its fierce violet flame, his power will be unstoppable. Can Jayben save the world before the lights go out forever?"
Lyall-Grant commented: "Thomas’s pitch-perfect writing and imagination have combined to create a hugely exciting new world for readers to sink their teeth into – it’s been a thrill discovering the delights and dangers of the Elf world alongside Jayben. Thomas’ story has a truly universal message that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible. We couldn’t be happier to welcome Thomas to HCG – and now the golden torch has been ignited, we know this is just the beginning of something incredible."
Leeds added: "Not so long ago, my memory problems meant that simply reading a children’s book was an achievement. My dream of writing again seemed impossible. I want to show all kids that, no matter where you’re from or what difficulties you have, if something’s not impossible, then you can do it. I couldn’t be more grateful to my amazing agent Abi Fellows and Callen Martin at The Good Literary Agency, and my wonderful editor Polly Lyall-Grant and everyone else at Hachette Children’s Group – for believing in me, and for helping me to represent brain injury and epilepsy."
