Bill Wood is right back with Scholastic in a three-book deal
Scholastic has snapped up three new titles from breakout YA horror-thriller writer Bill Wood, the first a direct sequel to his 2024 debut, Let’s Split Up.
Editorial director Polly Lyall Grant acquired world rights including audio from Lucy Irvine at PFD to Be Right Back and two other titles. The first in the deal will publish in October 2025, with the remaining two scheduled for October 2026 and 2027.
Be Right Back reunites the “Scooby-Doo-inspired” team of Let’s Split Up one year after the murders that shook their small American town. Cam, Jonesy, Buffy and Amber return for the annual Halloween festival only to find themselves at the centre of another deadly mystery. And “with costumed visitors flooding the streets, it seems impossible to identify the real face behind a fresh wave of murders. Is it a copycat killer?”
The 24-year-old Wood’s debut was published soon after he earned his degree in film and screenwriting from Birmingham City University. Let’s Split Up is currently being developed for a live-action series by New York-based Scholastic Entertainment. Wood said: “Let’s Split Up has been a true labour of love, and I’m beyond grateful that it’s connecting with readers. I’m so thrilled to expand the series and dive even deeper into this mysterious world. Bringing these stories to life has been an incredible journey.”
Lyall Grant added: “We are thrilled to build Bill’s exciting YA market position with this new deal. Nobody is writing YA thrillers quite like Bill, with his unique brand of horror-chiller mash-ups with pure entertainment at the forefront of his storytelling. He effortlessly brings the energy and nostalgia of classic scare franchises to a new generation."
