Walker Books seizes 'spectacular' middle-grade fantasy series by debut Staff

Walker Books has seized a "spectacular" middle-grade fantasy series by debut author P A Staff. 

Senior editor Emily McDonnell acquired UK and commonwealth rights in a two-book deal from Josephine Hayes at The Blair Partnership, and Staff is now represented by Jordan Lees at the same agency.

The first book in the series, Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power, will publish in November 2023. The synopsis says that the "story takes the traditional ’Chosen One’ narrative and flips it on its head, creating a spectacular novel that celebrates difference and how what makes us unique is also our greatest strength".

It adds: "Casander Darkbloom has no memory, lives outside a curiosity shop and experiences random surges of uncontrollable energy in his limbs. When he brings a stuffed raven to life, he unravels a strange and magical world. A world waiting for Cas to save it.

"Under the protection of Wayward School, Cas must learn to master his magical abilities. But, as he soon discovers, all may not be quite as it seems – and Cas will need to take control of his own destiny if he is to find the strength to fight the powers of evil."

The author is a science communicator, vet and writer who grew up with a rare neurological movement condition known as Paroxysmal Kinesigenic Choreoathetosis (PKC). 

According to the publisher, "she created Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power to tackle the universal central themes of embracing your differences and conquering people’s perceptions of them".

Staff said: “Casander Darkbloom and the Threads of Power is incredibly close to my heart. Growing up around the likes of Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia, I’ve always loved reading but never saw individuals like myself much represented in books or the media.

"I was diagnosed with PKC from childhood and so I wanted to write a story featuring heroes with similar differences as an ode to my 12-year-old self. Hopefully the whimsical world of Wayward and the main characters in Casander will be a diverse place and family that all readers can call home.”

McDonnell added: “I was gripped from the very first lines of P A Staff’s debut, which launch us into a world where magic is the very fabric of the universe. The authenticity and inclusivity of her story is something that I’m sure readers will love, plus the book has a twist that is one of the best I’ve read in a long time!”