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Titan Books has signed an "innovative and exciting" retelling of Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by debut author L L McKinney.
Publishing September 2018, A Blade So Black follows Atlanta teenager Alice and her dual life, which sees her fighting monsters known as Nightmares in Wonderland, and exam results in the real world.
The blurb reads: "The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew.
"Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mum, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA, keeping the nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she'll need to use everything she's learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head... literally."
Chappell said: "I'm delighted to have acquired the UK rights to L L McKinney's irresistibly fun, stylish and romantic debut."
A second title from McKinney is expected to follow for 2019.
McKinney is a poet and active member of the kidlit community. She’s an advocate for equality and inclusion in publishing, and the creator of the hashtag #WhatWoCWritersHear.
The publisher holds UK and Commonwealth (excluding Canada) rights.