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S&S secures McKenzie for four more novels

06.10.10 | Jo Young

Simon and Schuster has bought the world rights to a new book series by teen author Sophie McKenzie, for an undisclosed sum.

The company will publish four titles by the award-winning writer, in a deal agreed between Simon and Schuster’s fiction editorial director Venetia Gosling and Rosemary Canter at United Agents.

The first book in the fiction series, Falling East, chronicles a Romeo and Juliet-style romance between teenagers River and Flynn. It will be published in May next year and will be followed by three more titles, Burning Bright, Casting Shadows and Defy the Stars.

Sophie McKenzie writes both romance fiction and thrillers for young people and has won more than 20 awards, including the Red House Children’s Book Award. This is the first time that the firm has secured world rights in the author’s books, and Tracy Phillips, Simon and Schuster’s co-editions and rights director, says expectations are high for the new novels.

“There’s definitely a buzz around this new series and we’re very excited about making Sophie an international success,” she said.

• Jo Young
• Rights deal
• Simon & Schuster
• Venetia Gosling