Puffin signed a six-figure contract for his fantasy debut. monsters at the end of the worldwritten by Rebecca Orwin.
Novel publisher Ben Horslen has made a six-figure profit on two titles from Diamond Kahn & Woods' Camille Barnes, pre-empting world rights to the post-apocalyptic middle grade story. The first book will be published in paperback on 6 March 2025 at £7.99, and the second will follow a year later.
“monsters at the end of the worldfor intermediate fantasy readers, which I've always loved. the last bear and how to train a dragon, this is the birth of new commercial writing talent of incredible quality,” Puffin said. “This is part of our ongoing strategy to bring out the best new voices in middle grade fiction and publish books for all children. It will be an important focus for us.”
The blurb says: “Two hundred years ago, a series of natural disasters known as Ruins contaminated the land, prompting never-before-seen marine life to claim the ocean as their own. The only thing left for humanity. For the coastal villages of , they are a constant threat, terrifying stories told to keep children away from the shallows.
“But when Sunny discovers one of the monsters trapped on the beach, she realizes everything she thought she knew about them was wrong. ” are intelligent and kind creatures that are much more in tune with nature than humans. With crops failing on land and hostilities escalating at sea, will Sonny and Mo's unlikely friendship be enough to save what's left of their world?”
Horslen said: “I couldn't be more excited for Puffin to publish Rebecca's stunning debut novel. As an exploration of the power of empathy to resolve intractable conflicts, this is a timely and much needed book. But first and foremost, it's a fascinating adventure, perfect for young readers who dream of an unlikely, life-changing friendship with a magical non-human character like E.T. Skellig or Hannah. The Gold Bear. The fantasy market is booming across a wide age range, and this is an outstanding story that will attract readers immediately and for years to come.”
Mr Orwin added: monsters at the end of the world We will join hands with the legendary little puffin as we venture into the world. A huge thank you to Ben and the team at Puffin Co., and to our amazing agent Camille, for their compassion, belief, and believing in this post-apocalyptic middle-grade story about sea monsters. ”
Burns said: “I'm so excited that my first deal as an agent will be the perfect home for Rebecca. I can't wait for readers to meet Sonny and Mo in 2025.”
Orwin grew up in Chesterfield. She holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Newcastle University and currently lives in Sheffield.
