Danny Wallace pens two more Hamish books for S&S

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has signed two more children’s books from writer and broadcaster Danny Wallace.

The titles will continue his Hamish series, which is illustrated by Jamie Littler and pitched at children aged eight to 12.

Jane Griffiths, editorial director for Children’s Fiction, acquired UK and commonwealth rights in a two book deal via Robert Kirby at United Agents.

The first in the series, Hamish and the Worldstoppers, won the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Award in the nine plus category. Hamish and the Never People followed in 2016, and last week Simon & Schuster published Hamish and the Gravity Burp. Sales of the three books currently amount to 75,000 copies, the publisher said.

The two new books will continue to follow Hamish Ellerby with his friends in the Pause Defense Force for more adventure and mayhem in the town of Starkley. Currently untitled, the fourth Hamish book will publish in paperback March 2018, and the fifth will publish in hardback in October 2018.

Wallace said: "I’m already halfway through writing the next Hamish adventure, and you haven’t even finished reading this quote. That’s how excited I am to crack on and give Hamish even more time to run around saving the world from ever-more-ridiculous enemies. I thank Simon & Schuster for their confidence!"

Griffiths said: "I’m so happy to have more Hamish books in the pipeline from the brilliant and hilarious Danny Wallace. The series already has a legion of devoted fans who I know will be just as excited as we all are at S&S to find out what’s next for Hamish and his friends…"

Wallace has previously written adult fiction and non-fiction for Ebury. His non-fiction book Yes Man (Ebury Press) was made into a film with Jim Carrey. Littler has illustrated many children’s books including new editions of Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. He also has a weekly comic in The Phoenix, "Cogg and Sprokit".