Middle-grade titles from New Writing North winners Ruffell and Durkan go to Hachette Children’s 

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired two middle-grade titles from Andy Ruffell and Hannah Durkan, winners of the Hachette Children’s Group Novel Award in partnership with New Writing North.

Ruffell’s debut novel, Lily Grim and the City of Undone, will be published in May 2023 and the second book in Hannah Durkan’s Zeina Starborn series, Zeina Starborn and the Emerald King, will publish in July 2023. The first instalment in the series was published by Orion.

In 2018, Hachette Children’s Group partnered with New Writing North on the Hachette Children’s Group Novel Award, a prize for debut children’s writers who live and work in the north of England; Durkan won the prize in 2020 and Ruffell won in 2021.

Ruffell’s middle-grade debut, world rights to which were were acquired directly from the author by Hachette Children’s Group as part of the terms of his prize-winning contract, is described as “a gothic fantasy adventure that follows new friends Lily and Dekka as they race to unravel the mystery of Lily’s life". 

The synopsis reads: “When her guardian, Gabriel, is captured by the cruel Master of Undone, and thrown into the prison Ring, Lily is saved by Dekka, and he introduces her to a whole Otherworld that exists beneath the City of Undone. But Lily is now in grave danger: because the Master wants her dead. But why?  Can Lily find answers about who she is, and where she’s from? And can the new friends rescue Gabriel, before it’s too late?”

Jenna Mackintosh, editor at Hachette Children’s Group, said: “From the moment I read Andy’s story, I knew it was something special, both original and hugely commercial. His commitment and talent shine in every chapter and we’re proud to be bringing this exciting new world to readers.”

Ruffell said: “I am so looking forward to readers exploring the City of Undone and meeting Lily and Dekka. I loved working on this book because, right from the start, it seemed to have a life of its own and it really wanted to be written. While I was writing it, the story loved playing tricks on me and many of the twists and turns snuck up and surprised me as much as a writer as I hope they do you.”

Nazima Abdillahi, editor at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world rights to Zeina Starborn and the Emerald King from Chloe Seager at the Madeleine Milburn agency. Zeina Starborn and the Emerald King is the “thrilling” follow up to Hannah Durkan’s 2022 debut, Zeina Starborn and The Sky Whale. Featuring fearsome sky pirates, ice bears and a strange Emerald King, main characters Zeina and Jackson must battle both familiar foes and new adversaries in order to halt the invention of a new, cruel technology that would prove devastating and change their world forever.

Abdillahi said: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Hannah on Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale. Hannah is incredibly talented and passionate, and we’re thrilled to be expanding this magnificent world she has created.” 

Durkan commented: “I have thoroughly enjoyed diving back into Zeina and Jackson’s world to write their new action-packed adventure across the Northern Continent to the ice palace of the Emerald King. Readers can expect all the adventure and excitement of book one but with even higher stakes and more secrets to be uncovered. I loved working with Hachette on Zeina Starborn and the Sky Whale and can’t wait to share this next part of Zeina and Jackson’s story with the world.”