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Macmillan Children's Books pre-empts debut series from Thomson in six-figure deal
Macmillan Children’s Books has snapped up Greenwild, the "extraordinary" debut from Pari Thomson in a six-figure pre-empt for a three book deal, with illustrations by Elisa Paganelli.
Emma Jones, editorial director, acquired UK, commonwealth and translation rights from Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge & White. North American rights were sold by Pete Knapp at Park Literary to Janine O’Malley, executive editor at Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Macmillan US). The Macmillan rights team also secured "significant" German and Dutch deals. The first book will be published in summer 2023 by Macmillan Children’s Books in the UK, US and Germany simultaneously. Books two and three will follow in 2024 and 2025. Greenwild will be a "super-lead" title supported by a "major" campaign, including national advertising.
“This is the fantasy adventure I’ve been wanting to land in my inbox for the better part of two decades," said O’Malley. "With its evocative writing and enchanting premise, I was hooked from the first pages and rushed to finish only to find myself longing for the next book. Irresistibly fun and fresh, Greenwild transports us to a world filled with extraordinary plants and flowers and empowers readers to see magic everywhere – and in themselves.”
Greenwild is a "uniquely fantastical" middle-grade adventure series with an ecological twist. "A powerful story of bravery, hope and magic for an increasingly environmentally-aware generation of readers," the publisher wrote. The first book follows 11-year-old Daisy Thistledown who is pulled into a "spectacular" adventure after her mother goes missing. The adventure begins when Daisy follows a cat through a mysterious hidden doorway in Kew Gardens, on the other side is Greenwild. The publisher continued: "In this land of botanical wonders, Daisy will meet new friends and learn of an old magic, and hear murmurs of a conspiracy reaching across the globe that threatens not only Daisy and her family, but the fate of the Greenwild itself."
Samantha Smith, publisher of fiction, non-fiction and picture books, said: “We’re thrilled to bring such an imaginative talent to the list. Pari Thomson and her world of Greenwild will delight and enchant adventure-loving children for years to come.”
Jones said: "Immersing myself in Greenwild felt like a gift: I fell for Daisy immediately, and Pari’s writing and world-building are so exceptional that I was perfectly happy to drop everything and get lost in the richly magical world she’s created. We are so excited to work with our international colleagues to bring Daisy’s adventures and the irresistible wonders of the Greenwild to children all over the world.”
Thomson added: "I feel so lucky that Greenwild has found homes both in the UK and the US at Macmillan Children’s Books and FSG. Every part of it has been a dream come true, especially for the 10-year-old bookworm who still lives somewhere inside me. Daisy’s story is an adventure and a mystery, but it’s also a love letter to the wild and astonishing richness of the world around us – because, as most children already know, nature (and people) are full of magic, if only we look closely enough.”
