Xiron Pools funds to bag McFall series

Beijing-based publisher Xiron Books has acquired a new Young Adult series by Claire McFall for a six-figure sum.

Xiron pre-empted the series, entitled The Drowning Pool, in a deal struck with McFall’s agent Ben Illis. The books, based on Greek mythology, are about an oracle who has lost most of his skills of prophecy, except for one vision: of how and when he is going to die. But that starts to change when he meets a girl...

While relatively little-known in her native Britain, Scottish author McFall is a superstar in China, where her Ferryman series has sold more than three million copies. The final title in the Ferrryman tranche, Outcasts, will be released in the UK this month by Floris Books imprint Kelpies. Illis also sold German rights to the Ferryman books to Arctis, while a film deal has been struck with Legendary Entertainment.