Jennifer Pearson's YA novel nets global deals at LBF after six-figure pre-empt from Simon & Schuster

Jennifer Pearson’s YA debut, Drop Dead Famous, recently clinched by Simon & Schuster Children’s Books in a six-figure pre-empt, has been racking up international deals at the London Book Fair (LBF). 

Ali Dougal, publishing director, acquired world rights in the crime thriller and a sequel, from Sam Copeland at RCW. Dubbed “a lightning-fast six-figure pre-empt", S&S UK has now secured several new territories during the LBF, with around five concluded within Day 1 alone. S&S Children’s will co-publish with Sarah Barley Books, an imprint of S&S Books for Young Readers US.

Since sending the book out on international submission six weeks ago triggering pre-empts and auctions, rights are now secured for German, Portuguese, Portuguese in Brazil, French, Spanish, US and Dutch in total.

Drop Dead Famous will publish in spring 2026 in paperback, supported by an attention-grabbing marketing and PR campaign. The sequel will follow nine months later.

Pearson’s YA debut follows global singing sensation Blair Baker, who rises on a platform high above the stage for the opening number of her triumphant hometown concert as the crowd erupts in applause. But their joy quickly turns to horror when they realise that Blair is dead. The shocking revelation that music’s brightest star has been murdered rocks the world. But for her younger sister, Stevie, the tragedy is more than a headline – it’s personal. Determined to uncover the truth, Stevie dives headfirst into the shadows of her sister’s glittering life.

S&S Children’s said: “What begins as a search for answers turns into a dangerous journey through the toxic underbelly of fame, where betrayal, manipulation and obsession thrive. Yet, as Stevie peels back the layers of who her sister really was, she begins to uncover dark secrets closer to home – secrets that someone is desperate to keep buried.” 

Dougal said: “This hooky, twisty, messy murder mystery introduces us to a brilliant new detective in complex, layered Stevie and her relentlessly enthusiastic sidekick Colby – YA readers are going to love them. It is a long time since a crime thriller submission has made me laugh, cry and race to the end in one breathless sitting. This one nails it, and I’m thrilled to have snapped it up for Simon & Schuster’s blockbusting YA list.” 

Pearson said: “I had so much fun writing Drop Dead Famous. Then I finished it and was immediately consumed with self-doubt, so it was both a thrill and relief to see publishers getting excited by it. I feel very lucky to have landed such fabulous editors in Ali Dougal and Sarah Barley at Simon & Schuster, and I am excited for people to read it.” 

Copeland said: “When I started reading this, I realised there is no end to Jennifer’s talent. Her debut YA is an exercise in brilliant plotting and I know everybody is going to fall in love with the characters. I couldn’t be more excited.” 

The author has previously written as Jenny Pearson. Her middle-grade novels, including The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates (Usborne), acquired in an eight-way auction in 2019, have been published in 20 languages. She has been shortlisted for UK awards including the Costa, Waterstones Prize, Branford Boase, UKLA and Lollies, and her books have been selected as Waterstones Book of the Month, the Times Book of the Year and Sunday Times Book of the Week. This is her YA debut.