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Bonnier Books UK acquire full Garth Nix backlist and new novel

Bonnier Books UK acquire full Garth Nix backlist and new novel

Bonnier Books UK have acquired UK rights to international bestseller Garth Nix’s backlist, as well as a highly anticipated new novel in the Old Kingdom series, marking the first time the complete Old Kingdom will be housed under one roof within the UK. Garth Nix’s books have sold in excess of six million copies globally.

Jane Harris, managing director of children’s trade at Bonnier Books UK, and Emma Matthewson, executive publisher for Piccadilly Press and Hot Key Books, acquired rights from Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management.

The new novel in Nix’s highly successful Old Kingdom series, titled Terciel and Elinor, will be launched in 2021 with a major sales, publicity and marketing campaign alongside a stunning rebrand for Nix and the Old Kingdom.

‘I am absolutely delighted to have my children’s and YA novels come together with Bonnier Books UK, and to return to the storied land of the Old Kingdom to tell another tale of love, deep myth, necromancy and Charter magic.’

Garth Nix

The full list of acquired backlist and new titles (see list below) across YA, teen and middle-grade will be published under Bonnier Books UK imprints Hot Key Books and Piccadilly Press in an energetic publishing programme scheduled for 2020 and 2021.

In additional exciting news Herschend Entertainment Studios, the media arm of Herschend Enterprises, has secured film and TV rights to Garth Nix’s seven-book The Keys to the Kingdom series. Nix will serve as an executive producer alongside Julie Phillips, VP of Herschend Entertainment Studios.

‘To create a new creative and marketing campaign to take Garth’s books to new readers and his devoted fans is incredibly exciting. His storytelling and world building within each book is so rich and layered you never want to stop reading them.’

Jane Harris, M.D. of Children’s Trade, Bonnier Books UK

Garth Nix said: ‘I am absolutely delighted to have my children’s and YA novels come together with Bonnier Books UK, and to return to the storied land of the Old Kingdom to tell another tale of love, deep myth, necromancy and Charter magic.’

Emma Matthewson, Executive Publisher for Piccadilly Press and Hot Key Books, Bonnier Books UK, said: ‘I have been a superfan of Garth’s writing for so many years and it is such a thrill to bring Garth’s spectacular series, The Old Kingdom, The Keys to the Kingdom, and more – home to Hot Key Books. We cannot wait to release the magic!’

Jane Harris, Managing Director of Children’s Trade, Bonnier Books UK, said: ‘Garth is someone I have admired and read since he published his first book Sabriel. We are all absolutely thrilled to now have his fantasy series Keys to the Kingdom and The Old Kingdom all under the Hot Key Books imprint.

‘To create a new creative and marketing campaign to take Garth’s books to new readers and his devoted fans is incredibly exciting. His storytelling and world building within each book is so rich and layered you never want to stop reading them.’

Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management, said: ‘Bonnier Books UK has been a wonderful publishing partner to us. I am thrilled to be expanding our relationship with them through these two brilliant, acclaimed series of Garth’s and his treasured children’s backlist.’

Full list of acquisitions

  • Terciel and Elinor (2021) – new book in the YA Old Kingdom series
  • Sabriel, Lirael and Abhorsen acquired in print format to join the pre-existing Hot Key Books eBook editions. Clariel and Goldenhand are already published in all formats by Hot Key Books, bring the Old Kingdom series to one home for the first time in the UK.
  • A 25th anniversary edition of Sabriel will be published in 2021.
  • The complete Keys to the Kingdom fantasy series (Mister Monday, Grim Tuesday, Drowned Wednesday, Sir Thursday, Lady Friday, Superior Saturday, Lord Sunday)
  • Across the Wall – short story collection (to join To Hold the Bridge)
  • The Ragwitch – Garth’s first ever novel
  • One Beastly Beast – a middle-grade novel (to join Frogkisser!, Have Sword, Will Travel and Let Sleeping Dragons Lie).

About Garth Nix

Garth Nix’s books have sold in excess of six million copies globally, are translated into 42 languages, and have been recognised on bestseller lists around the world including The Sunday TimesNew York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA Today. Frogkisser! is currently being developed as a film by Twentieth Century Fox/Blue Sky Animation.

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