WALTER DEAN MYERS SIGNS MULTI BOOK CONTRACT WITH EGMONT USA
Friday 30 May 2008
Egmont USA has announced that Walter Dean Myers, winner of two Newbery Honors and five Coretta Scott King Awards, will have two books on the company's Fall 2009 launch list.
His first is an historical novel for ages 10-up, and the second will be a picture book illustrated by his son, Christopher Myers. This will mark the fourth picture book collaboration between this celebrated father-son team whose previous award-winning books include the Caldecott Honor Book, Harlem, as well as blues journey and Jazz.
The timing of the announcement in May 2008 also marks another collaborative milestone - Walter Dean Myers's twentieth anniversary working with editor Regina Griffin, who was recently named Executive Editor at Egmont USA. In her previous positions as Executive Editor at Scholastic Inc. and Editor-in-Chief at Holiday House, Griffin edited many of Myers's books, including Somewhere in the Darkness (Scholastic), which received a Newbery Honor; and Jazz (Holiday House), which received a Coretta Scott King Honor for Illustration.
According to Ms. Griffin, "Elizabeth Law, who is Egmont's vice president and publisher, and I both felt that Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers were a perfect fit for Egmont because their work is loved by both reviewers and readers and because they share our world views about ethical publishing and the importance of books as a medium to connect to today's youth. Our corporate goal is to publish high-quality books that have strong kid appeal and that engage many types of readers from those who love to read to those who may not think of themselves as readers, but who respond to authors whose work resonates with their experience. Walter's and Christopher's books speak directly to kids, and they are popular role models who are tightly connected to their audience."
Walter and Christopher are very pleased to be publishing with Egmont and have said, "Egmont has a global presence, and they also have a global consciousness. They see the need to create innovative and exciting children's media that will help kids in PA, Harlem or Nebraska understand their place in the world. In considering working with Egmont, we took a long look at their website and met with their team, and were impressed not only with the range and scope of their endeavors but also with the philosophy behind what they're doing."
Christopher added, "Regina Griffin, my editor at Egmont, is the kind of person who I'm likely to run into at a concert for my favorite Brazilian musician in Brooklyn, or at the opening of a new Chinese opera at the Met. She's a global thinker who I believe will help pave the way for American children to understand how they fit in a swiftly changing world. I worked with Publisher Elizabeth Law on two books benefiting a children's hospital, and she represents for me the way that Egmont chooses to think in a socially responsible way. I'm excited to make new work with these people, to step through the doors they and the others at Egmont are trying to open." Egmont USA's launch list of quality young adult and middle grade fiction and picture books will be published in 2009.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Egmont Contact Doug Pocock Regina Griffin |
UK Contact Liz Sich and Hannah Blake at Colman Getty |
See Also... |
