Rachel Renee Russell, the author behind the Dork Diaries series, has signed a deal to write a new middle grade series. Aladdin, an imprint at Simon & Schuster, will release the first installment, entitled The Misadventures of Max Crumbly, in April 2016. Book two will follow in Spring 2017.
Publisher Mara Anastas negotiated the deal with Writers House literary agent Daniel Lazar. Associated editorial director Liesa Abrams will edit the manuscripts. Abrams has been working with Russell (pictured, via) since her first Dork Diaries book.
Here’s more from the press release: “The Misadventures of Max Crumbly introduces Max Crumbly and his daily ups and downs at South Ridge Middle School. Homeschooled by his grandmother until he begs his family to send him to public middle school, Max begins to rethink that choice when Tommy Silver keeps stuffing him in his locker. For ages 8-12, this hilarious and heartfelt new series is illustrated with Max’s black-and-white comics as he attempts to escape the locker and tries his best to be the hero his school needs.”
Scott Westerfeld (pictured, via), Margo Lanagan, and Deborah Biancotti will collaborate on a new young-adult trilogy. The trio of writers have devoted two years to developing the characters and crafting the story for this project.
Simon Pulse will release book one, entitled Zeroes, on September 29th. Publisher Mara Anastas negotiated the deal with Jill Grinberg of the Jill Grinberg Literary Management. Editorial director Liesa Abrams will edit the manuscript.
Here’s more from the press release: “Who are the Zeroes? There’s Ethan, aka Scam, who’s got a voice inside him that’ll say anything you want to hear, whether it’s true or not. There’s Chizara, aka Crash, who can bring technology to its knees; Riley, aka Flicker, who can see through anyone’s eyes but her own; Thibault, aka Anonymous, who’s out of sight, out of mind; Nataniel, aka Bellwether, who can focus any crowd’s energy on a single goal; and Kelsie, who can amp up or damp down a mob’s emotions. They were all born in the year 2000, and live in Cambria, California. Their abilities make them anything but heroes—until a high stakes crisis changes everything.”
Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, has acquired the book rights to Strays a self-published YA novel about two orphans by Virginia Castleman.
Castleman self-published the book through Archway Publishing, a self-publishing service operated for Simon & Schuster by Author Solutions, back in February where it gained momentum and attention. This is the first time that a Simon & Schuster imprint has acquired a title from Archway.
“Virginia Castleman is a strong writer with a fascinating and emotionally wrenching story to tell,” explained Mara Anastas, Vice President and Publisher of Aladdin Books and Simon Pulse, in a statement. “I was immediately struck by her unique voice and storytelling ability, and we look forward to working with her to bring Strays to an even wider audience.”
The book is slated for a spring 2016 release.
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Author Rachel Renee Russell has inked a deal with Simon & Schuster’s Aladdin imprint to publish books five and six (currently untitled) in the popular Dork Diaries middle grade series.
Aladdin will release the fourth title, Dork Diaries 3 ½: How to Dork Your Diary, in October. Book five will follow in fall 2012 and book six is coming in spring 2013. Publisher Mara Anastas negotiated the deal with Writers House literary agent Daniel Lazar. Executive editor Liesa Abrams will serve as editor for all the forthcoming books.
Russell had this statement in the release: “As my character Nikki Maxwell might say, Squee! Or she might break into a Snoopy happy dance. That’s how excited I am to be writing and drawing more Dork Diaries books. Watching this series grow and be embraced by fans all over the world has been a dream come true, and I’m so happy that I can keep showing my readers that, indeed, dorks rule!”
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