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Leah Williamson, captain of England’s women’s football team, has revealed her first fiction book, The Wonder Team and the Forgotten Footballers.
The deal with Macmillan Children’s Books forms part of a previously announced three-book deal. It will publish on 31st August 2023 in B format paperback and will be co-written with Williamson’s cousin Jordan Glover and fully-illustrated throughout by Robin Boyden. It will be the first title in a series called The Wonder Team and a second fiction book will follow in April 2024.
All-languages world rights for two titles in The Wonder Team series were acquired by Sam Smith, publisher, fiction, non-fiction and picture books and Cate Augustin, senior commissioning editor, fiction and non-fiction from Jo Tongue at Tongue Tied Management for Williamson and Glover. Illustrations from Boyden were bought from Charlie Bowden at Pickled Ink illustration Agency.
“The Wonder Team will offer fast-paced, fully-illustrated adventure stories where readers will meet inspiring and fascinating women from all walks of life,” the publisher said, promising a communications campaign “fit for a champion, including multi-channel advertising, media interviews and partnerships, all with the aim of inspiring as many young people, and especially girls, as possible”.
The first book is loosely based on one of the Dick Kerr Ladies, and their brave protest against the ban on women’s football.
Williamson said: “When I was younger I loved fiction that encouraged me to pursue my passions and educated me through inspirational stories. I was lucky enough to have that same support at home with family. So the opportunity to work with my cousin Jordan on this is incredible.”
Glover added: “We’re excited to share the stories of so many inspirational women with a new generation of readers. Writing this book has been an incredible experience in itself, but it’s been made so much better by the fact that I’ve been able to do it with my cousin, Leah.”
Smith said: “The MCB team are so excited to be working with Leah and Jordan on their first fiction series. We know these page-turning stories will resonate with all sorts of readers, and are certain that The Wonder Team will establish Leah and Jordan as mainstays in the middle grade fiction space. The Wonder Team is as fun as it is inspiring, from an author duo dedicated to getting kids hooked on reading.”