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HarperCollins Children’s Books (HCCB) has signed a two-book deal with debut middle grade author James Davis with illustrations by Dotty Sutton about "an alien species who will do anything for a warm cup of hot chocolate”.
Scarlet: Defender of the Universe is slated for January 2025 with the sequel to follow in January 2026.
World rights were acquired by Tom Bonnick, editorial director for fiction, from Becky Bagnell at The Lindsay Literary Agency and for illustration, from Tamlyn Francis at Arena Illustration.
HCCB said: “Illustrated throughout in black and white by rising star Dotty Sutton, Scarlet: Defender of the Universe is a middle-grade Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – a funny, action-packed novel from an unmissable new voice in children’s writing.”
The blurb reads: “Scarlet is thrown into a whirlwind adventure that takes her to the furthest reaches of the cosmos and back again, on a mission to prevent the destruction of planet Earth by an alien species who will do anything for a warm cup of hot chocolate.”
Bonnick said: “There are fewer things harder to write than properly funny children’s fiction, which makes the books that manage it rarer than hen’s teeth, but James’s debut had me laughing out loud from page one.
“Hugely exciting, original, warm-hearted, and most importantly, unbelievably, hysterically funny, Scarlet: Defender of the Universe is an incredible debut from an extraordinary new voice. It’s one of those books that will have you quoting your favourite lines to everyone you meet, and I can’t think of an eight-year-old who won’t love this hilarious story.”
Davis, who is based in Manchester, said: “I only started writing about Scarlet’s adventures to try and impress my son. He thought I was the best writer in the world (for almost a whole week). So, with little expectation, I submitted the manuscript to agents. I couldn’t have hoped for anyone better than my wonderful agent Becky, who helped me find a home for Scarlet at HarperCollins.
“To top it all off, Dotty’s fresh and brilliant illustrations will make Scarlet shine.”