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Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has snapped up Gold Medal Mysteries, a middle-grade series from multi-medal-winning Paralympian swimmer, Ellie Robinson.
Fiction publisher Lucy Pearse bought world all language rights in three books from Lydia Silver at Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency. The series is an accessible and international mystery adventure story that will be illustrated by James Lancett. The first book, Thief on the Track, is launching in April 2023, backed by a major marketing and publicity campaign. The second book will follow in autumn 2023.
“Join three sporting detectives as they race around the world,” the synopsis reads. “In the first adventure, Hannah, Maria and Seb are at the World Championships in Tokyo, bonding over their excitement at watching their favourite athletes compete. On discovering that one of the star runners has had his gold medal stolen, the three join forces to solve the case. Can the detectives uncover who is out to sabotage the team before the final race is run?”
Pearse said: “Gold Medal Mysteries is a masterclass in accessible, adventurous storytelling, from a hugely talented author with a powerful message of perseverance. Ellie has created an inclusive, energetic new series with an ingenious mystery and a trio of friends you’ll want to follow around the world. We are proud to be launching this commercial new series, and are at the starting blocks, ready for readers to begin the race to solve the case!”
Robinson is a world record breaker in the S6 50m & 100m Butterfly. She won gold and bronze medals in Rio 2016 and a Commonwealth gold in 2018, before competing in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. In recognition of her achievements in swimming, she won the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award in 2016 and has been awarded an MBE. She was born with cartilage-hair hypoplasia, a rare form of dwarfism, and in 2012 she was also diagnosed with Perthes hip disease. She retired from swimming after the Tokyo games and is now a student and author.
“A year ago, I made the transition from Paralympic athlete to author with great excitement, and I can’t wait to meet my readers,” she said. “Gold Medal Mysteries combines my favourite things: sport, travel, friendship and a sense of adventure, and my aim was to write a book you just can’t put down! I hope it will give children a behind-the-scenes look at the life of an athlete, as well as incorporating all the emotions we face as children, including how to make ourselves stronger.”