Scholastic UK is thrilled to announce an exciting publishing programme with award-winning author and screenwriter Simon James Green. Following his successful and critically-acclaimed novels, including Noah Can’t Even, Simon is established as a leading LGBTQ+ author in British YA. Now he is turning his talent to writing for younger readers as well as his YA fanbase.
Linas Alsenas, Executive Editor at Scholastic UK, struck a World Rights deal with Joanna Moult of Skylark Literary encompassing three picture books, three middle-grade novels and two YA novels.
In June 2020, Scholastic UK will publish Simon’s first picture book Llama Glamarama and YA novel Heartbreak Boys. In September 2020, Scholastic UK publishes Simon’s middle-grade debut, Life of Riley: Beginner’s Luck. Simon is signed for further picture books and middle-grade titles in 2021 and 2022.
In debut picture book Llama Glamarama (June 2020), Larry the llama has a secret: he loves dancing. Exuberantly illustrated by Garry Parsons, this hilarious, rhyming story is a celebration of being true to yourself, even if you are a bit different.
Heartbreak Boys (June 2020) is a YA coming-of-age summer road trip rom-com perfect for the social media generation. As Jack and Nate’s exes get together and start posting pics showing the world how fabulous their new life together is, Jack and Nate decide to make it look like they're having an even better time. But faking the best summer ever is harder than it looks.
In time for back-to-school, Life of Riley: Beginner’s Luck (Sept 2020) shares Simon’s trademark humour and heart with a younger middle-grade audience. Riley is cursed. No, really! After a fairground incident - bad luck follows Riley everywhere, causing disaster after disaster until new student Brad shows up who might just be Riley’s lucky charm. Can Brad's good luck cancel out Riley's bad luck? Or is this yet another recipe for disaster?
Simon James Green says: “It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of sunny, funny, warm-hearted books, and I’m incredibly excited that I’m going to get to write more of the thing I love, whilst reaching new age groups. Even better, I get to continue to work with my fabulous editor, Linas Alsenas, and the folk at Scholastic UK, who all pour so much love, heart and soul into what they do, they must surely be any author’s Dream Team. I feel so lucky to be supported and championed by them, and I cannot wait for all the stories we are going to tell - awkward, hilarious characters, determined to live their best lives, be they gay teenagers, chaotic and dramatic ten year old boys, or, indeed, llamas with big secrets!”
Linas Alsenas at Scholastic UK, says: “If Simon James Green writes something, we want to read it! I’m continually amazed by Simon’s talent: he has astonishing versatility, and Llama Glamarama, Life of Riley and all of his YA novels prove that he is able to communicate distinct, accessible, memorable voices across any age group. So at Scholastic we are doing our best to keep him as busy as possible, writing stories that will keep us laughing, swooning and crying for the foreseeable future.”
Joanna Moult at Skylark Literary says: “It is wonderful to see the partnership between Scholastic and Simon James Green going from strength to strength. Simon’s hilarious writing talent fits beautifully with Scholastic’s positive, creative and supportive publishing.”
