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Hodder Children's Books is to publish Disney's Waterfire Saga, a four-book YA series about a group of mermaids battling to save their world, in the UK.
The series is authored by Jennifer Donnelly.
Hodder will publish the first book, Waterfire Saga: Deep Blue, in May (h/b, £12.99). The second instalment, Waterfire Saga: Rogue Wave, will be released in January 2015, followed by the third book in autumn 2015 and the fourth in summer 2016.
Anne McNeil, publishing director at Hodder Children's Books, said Jennifer Donnelly was the "perfect fit" for Hodder. "We concentrate on building author-led brands book by book, retaining the integrity of the franchise whilst never losing sight of the individual creative author," she said.
Donnelly said the environmental and realistic aspects of the fantasy attracted her to the project. "These aren't your mother's mermaids hanging out on rocks all day," she said. "They're inspired by actual ocean life. And though they are magical creatures, these mermaids hope and dream and love, just as we do. They feel joy, sorrow, and pain. Like all teenagers, they struggle to understand themselves and their role in the world."
In the US, the books will be published by Disney Publishing Worldwide.
According to Publishers Weekly, tie-in deals include an enhanced e-book edition with extra video content, an original song commissioned by the Disney's Hollywood Records, and an audio book recorded by US X-Factor finalist Bea Miller.
Foreign editions of Deep Blue will be launched in 2014 and early 2015 with local publishers.