HarperCollins' Nick Lake snapped up by Hodder in two-book deal

Hodder Children’s Books has snapped up two books from HarperCollins’ publishing director of children's fiction, Nick Lake, including a teen space thriller. He was previously published by Bloomsbury and Simon & Schuster UK.

Emma Goldhawk, senior commissioning editor at the Hachette imprint, secured UK and commonwealth rights from Caradoc King at United Agents. The first book in the deal, Satellite, is “a highly original teen space thriller with deep emotional heart”. The novel follows Leo who has never set foot on Earth and has been raised with twins, Orion and Libra, on the Moon 2 Space Station. The story explores the consequences of the teenagers’ first journey home to earth. It will be published on on 5th October.

Goldhawk said: "We are delighted to be welcoming Nick and his astonishing new book, Satellite, to the Hodder Children’s list. At the core of this smart, highly original thriller is a story of longing, belonging, and discovering what ‘home’ really means. It simply demands to be read."

Lake says: "I'm honoured to be joining the fantastic Hodder list with Satellite. I don't think I've ever been prouder of a book, or put more of my heart into one. I'm grateful Leo's story is in such good hands - and keep gazing at that beautiful cover they've come up with."

Lake’s Blood Ninja trilogy about vampire ninjas were published by S&S UK. His first book for adults and older teenagers, In Darkness (Bloomsbury), was published in 2012 and focused on Haiti in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and won the Michael L. Printz Award.