Oxford Children's snares Westmoreland's skateboarding werewolf series

Oxford Children’s Books has snared gothic-inspired werewolf adventure series Rudy by debut author Paul Westmoreland, with illustrations from George Ermos.

World rights to the young fiction series were acquired by senior commissioning editor Clare Whitston from Gill McLay at the Bath Literary Agency. The first two books in the series, Rudy and the Wolf Cub and Rudy and the Monster at School will publish in time for Halloween in October 2022, with subsequent books planned for 2023 and beyond.

The publisher said: “Rudy, an exuberant werewolf who loves skateboarding with his friends Edie, a ghost, and Femi, a mummy, has a keen nose for adventure and a strong sense of loyalty. Powered by his faithful friendships and a belief that kindness and empathy for others will always win the day, Rudy’s impulsive and mischievous nature lead him to embark on a series of thrilling adventures which see him conquer some of his biggest fears."

The book features "striking" red and black artwork in Oxford Children’s trademark two-colour illustration style and “creatively bridges the gap between picture books and independent reading, making them the perfect books for reluctant readers”.

Editor Deborah Sims said: “The Rudy stories are stuffed full of excitement, adventure and, above all, heart. With his loyal friends by his side Rudy truly feels the power of the pack, and with them he can achieve anything. Plus, he’s a fun-loving skateboarding werewolf, so it’s a pretty irresistible package! I’m thrilled to welcome Paul and George to the Children’s list at OUP and can’t wait for kids to get reading the series and come and join the wolfpack!”

Westmoreland, who has spent 25 years creating award-winning advertising for TV, cinema, radio and digital campaigns, added: “I’m over the full-moon to be introducing Rudy to the world and welcoming young readers to join his adventures. Growing up is a bumpy road, even for a young werewolf, but Rudy always finds a fun and entertaining way to climb out of the deepest pitfall, which invariably lead to an unexpected adventure. Joining OUP is more than I could’ve hoped for and these books are a joy to write. I hope readers love hanging out with Rudy and his friends as half as much as I do.”