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Welbeck Flame has acquired Young Gothic, a four-book YA series M A Bennett, author of the STAGS series.
Jane Harris, children’s group publisher at Welbeck Children’s, made the deal for world rights with Teresa Chris at Teresa Chris Literacy Agency.
The first book will publish 18th January 2024, with the second book following in September.
The synopsis reads: “The series centres around four gifted young creatives who win the chance to be a part of the Young Gothic programme and spend a summer by the shores of Lake Geneva.
“Their prize, sponsored by shadowy Diodati Foundation, is an all-expenses-paid retreat at the beautiful Villa Diodati, a house that played host to another group of extraordinary young people two centuries ago. They were a young Lord Byron, his physician John Polidori, the poet Percy Shelley and his wife to-be Mary. Inspired by the eerie darkness, the young poets each conceived of a monstrous tale. Mary Shelley’s, famously, evolved into Frankenstein…
“In the modern day the four teens get to know one another at the villa that will be their summer home. Drawn from very different backgrounds, all they really have in common is their love of horror. Events rise to a horrible climax when, on a dark and stormy night, their worst fears become real.”
Bennett said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of gothic literature and horror movies and so I relished the chance to create my own monsters in Young Gothic. We’re all afraid of something and it was fascinating to examine what might happen if those fears somehow clamber out of the imagination. I’m thrilled to be continuing my work with Jane Harris and the Welbeck team, who have given me the opportunity to tread a much darker path than ever before.”
Harris added: “Marina has created a brilliant and timely tale which lays the foundations for a scintillating and original gothic series. Her exquisite weaving of the plot, mixing clever facts and historical detail within the modern day is compelling reading. Her characters will resonate and remain with you long after you have devoured reading it.”