Scholastic scoops Wolstencroft’s ‘dazzling’ middle-grade adventure

Scholastic has snapped up The Magic Hour by Bafta-winning screenwriter David Wolstencroft, securing the middle-grade adventure in a two-book deal. 

World rights for two books were acquired by Yasmin Morrissey, senior commissioning editor, from Stephanie Thwaites and Isobel Gahan at Curtis Brown. The Magic Hour will be a lead launch, publishing in paperback original in June 2023, and backed by a “major” marketing and PR campaign.

“Meet Ailsa Craig: the girl who is late to everything,” the synopsis reads. “Late to her own birth, late to school, Ailsa was even late to her own house exploding, although it’s never a good idea to be punctual to things like that. One day, Ailsa stumbles upon an ancient secret: that there are in fact 25 hours in a day. This hidden, extra hour, the ‘Magic Hour’, exists in a fantastical, parallel Edinburgh, which can only be accessed at twilight, by those privileged few in the know. As she explores this extraordinary world where anything seems possible, Ailsa can’t believe her luck. It’s the solution to all her problems, the inside track she’s always been looking for. 

“Her grades improve and life is on the up – even the popular kids start liking her. But Ailsa soon discovers the dark truth – that the Magic Hour comes at a terrible cost. With everything on the line, she must battle sinister forces to save herself, her family and the world.”

Wolstencroft is the creator and writer of spy drama “Spooks” and BBC legal thriller series “The Escape Artist”. He is co-creator of historical drama “Versailles” and the author of two thrillers: Good News Bad News and Ian Fleming Dagger Award-winning Contact Zero (both Hodder & Stoughton). Both are currently in development as feature films.

“I’ve always found the idea of time utterly compelling and these past few years, that feeling has only come into sharper relief,” he said. “Time is mysterious, deeply moving, full of magic. A few years ago, my daughter shared how nostalgic she was about her old nursery playground, and I went looking for a story that explored the philosophy of time for readers like her, ideally an adventure that broke the speed limit yet didn’t take itself too seriously. When I couldn’t find one, I decided to write it instead. But the joke’s on me, since now I live in a world of deadlines, where time is never on your side.”

Thwaites and Gahan said: “From the explosive first page of The Magic Hour we were blown away by David’s incredible imagination and the unparalleled mastery of his storytelling. Ailsa Craig’s adventure explores time, magic, loss and privilege in a fantastical parallel Edinburgh, all distilled into one lightning-speed début that has all the makings of a modern classic. We can’t wait for readers to discover Ailsa and the Magic Hour.”

Morrissey added: “We would all love an extra hour in the day. David has tapped into an idea that feels unique, immediate and sweepingly universal. My role as editor has been such a delight as I have navigated this time-twisting, darkly funny, high-octane world where adventure is abundant, and every second counts. This is an evergreen classic in the making – nobody will think about time in the same way after reading David’s smart, dazzling novel.”