Scholastic UK scoops “chilling and thrilling” collection of YA horror stories 

Scholastic UK has scooped A Taste of Darkness, a “chilling and thrilling” YA horror short story anthology curated by authors Amy McCaw and Maria Kuzniar. Yasmin Morrissey, senior fiction commissioning editor at Scholastic UK, acquired world rights from Thérèse Coen at Susanna Lea Associates and Sandra Sawicka at Marjacq, who represent the curators.

The selection includes contemporary horror stories, supernatural thrillers and ancient legends. The publisher said that “this anthology will have something for every YA and crossover adult reader”. A Taste of Darkness will be published in September 2023, and will include stories by Kat Dunn, Kat Ellis, Rachel Faturoti and Kathryn Foxfield.

McCaw said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have co-curated this anthology that celebrates UK YA horror and enables readers to enjoy new works by familiar authors and find some new favourites.” 

Kuzniar commented: “I’m delighted that this anthology has found a home with Scholastic, and beyond excited for readers to discover our collection of thrilling and creepy stories by a selection of very talented authors this spooky season!” 

Lauren Fortune, fiction publisher at Scholastic UK, added: “Every YA reader who loves chills and thrills will delight in this collection, full of the very best YA writers out there, each one a master of twist-filled, suspenseful, stay-up-all-night-storytelling. This is a real gem in our spectacular 2023 YA list.”