Simon & Schuster Sign Author and Illustrator Joe Berger

Simon & Schuster Children's Books today announced the acquisition of two novels for 8-12 year olds from author, illustrator and Guardian comic strip creator, Joe Berger.

Jane Griffiths, Senior Commissioning Editor, Children's Fiction, bought UK and Commonwealth rights in two books from Caroline Walsh at David Higham Associates in a hotly contested auction. The North American Rights have also been bought by Ruta Rimas, Senior Editor, Margaret K. McElderry Books, for Simon & Schuster, US via Tracey Adams of Adams Literary on behalf of Caroline Walsh.

The first book in this two book deal, All The Lies I've Ever Told, is told in a mixture of illustrations, cartoon strip and narrative text, and is the story of Sam, a notorious fibber, who decides to confess all of the stretched truths and white lies he's ever told.

Jane Griffiths said, "I've been a fan of Joe for a long time, so I'm completely thrilled to be working with him on his first long fiction title. All the Lies I've Ever Told is hilarious, brilliant and wonderful, and Joe's perfect mix of comic book sections, sketch illustrations and a sweetly funny text is going to prove a hit with children everywhere."

Joe Berger said, "Having spent my childhood and teens immersed in comics of all kinds, and a good deal of my adult life writing and drawing cartoons and comic strips, I'm completely thrilled to be producing my first long-form cartoon story with Simon & Schuster - it's a dream come true!"

All The Lies I've Ever Told will be published by Simon & Schuster UK in Spring 2017 in paperback, with the sequel following a year later.