Stewart Foster strikes new two-book deal with S&S Children's

Simon & Schuster Children’s UK has acquired two middle-grade titles from Stewart Foster, the award-winning author of The Bubble Boy.

Senior commissioning editor Lucy Rogers acquired world rights for two books from Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency.

The first book in the deal, titled The Perfect Parent Project, will publish in paperback, e-book and audiobook on 3rd September 2020, followed by Foster’s fifth, currently untitled, standalone novel in September 2021. Reissues of Stewart’s backlist will publish through 2021.

"The Perfect Parent Project is a heart-warming, funny and sensitive exploration of what it means to be a family, inspired by Stewart’s own experiences of fostering," reads the synopsis. "The story follows 11-year-old Sam who’s been in and out of foster care for most of his life. Along with his best friend, Leah, Sam devises a scheme to find the ‘perfect parents’ and a forever home—to unexpected and surprising results."

Rogers said: "Stewart has an extraordinary ability to connect to his readers. His books inspire empathy and understanding and are packed full of humour and heart. We are so pleased to be publishing two new middle-grade titles from Stewart, starting with the unforgettable The Perfect Parent Project."

Foster added: "I’m thrilled to continue working with Simon & Schuster. They share my passion for writing about real issues that affect children’s lives today. The Perfect Parent Project continues that theme, and in particular highlights the problems of children in foster care; a subject very close to my heart."

Rachel Denwood, S&S Children’s UK m.d., said: "We absolutely love publishing Stewart Foster at Simon & Schuster—and we’re excited to take his sales to the next level. For a lot of children, magic and fantasy aren’t the first reading choice and Stewart’s brilliantly told, compassionate real-life stories have such great potential to flourish on our growing author-led fiction list."