Simon & Schuster UK to Publish Children's Book, THE ROYAL RABBITS OF LONDON

Simon & Schuster Children's Books today announced the acquisition of The Royal Rabbits of London, the first children's book written by Santa and Simon Sebag Montefiore. Jane Griffiths, Senior Commissioning Editor, acquired World rights in a two-book deal via Sheila Crowley at Curtis Brown and Georgina Capel of Georgina Capel Associates. The series will be illustrated by Kate Hindley (United Agents).

The Hobbit meets Fantastic Mr Fox meets Watership Down, The Royal Rabbits of London is a charming, original tale that shows that even the smallest rabbit can be the biggest hero. Weak and shy, Shylo is the runt of a country litter, teased by his siblings. But when Shylo stumbles across a terrible conspiracy against the Royal Family, he sets off to the heart of London, where he discovers the secret world of the Royal Rabbits of London, ancient defenders of the Kings and Queens of England, who live under Buckingham Palace. Their tough commandos, The Thumpers, are fighting a losing battle against the vicious all-powerful villains of the 21st Century, the Ratzis, a breed of super-rats, who with their Smartphones and evil Internet empire, want to burn books, ruin childhood, and destroy the human heart. This unlikely hero joins the Royal Rabbits, a colourful team who include slick Clooney in his white tuxedo and the kick-boxing punk girl Laser, to save the Royals in Buckingham Palace itself... The Royal Rabbits of London brings London's palaces and parks to life with a delightful cast of unforgettable characters fighting for decent values in a modern Internet-cursed world, but they are also a brand of heroes who will conquer the world.

The Royal Rabbits of London will publish 6 October 2016 in hardback, with the paperback to follow in spring 2017. Book two is scheduled for October 2017.

Santa Montefiore is a number one Sunday Times fiction bestselling author of fifteen novels for adults, and was the fastest-growing women's fiction author in 2015. Santa's books have sold over one million copies in the UK since she moved to Simon & Schuster in 2010. Her international sales amount to over 4 million. Her latest, A Mother's Love, went straight into the top ten.

Simon Sebag Montefiore is a number one Sunday Times non-fiction bestselling author of history books and novels. His Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar won History Book of the Year at the 2004 British Book Awards. Young Stalin won the LA Times Book Prize for Best Biography, the Costa Book Award, the Bruno Kreisky Award for Political Literature and Le Grand Prix de la Biographie Politique. Catherine the Great & Potemkin has been optioned by Angelina Jolie. His latest, The Romanovs went straight into the top ten.

Inspired by their own children, The Royal Rabbits of London is the first collaboration between the two of them. Kate Hindley's first picture book, The Great Snortle Hunt (written by Claire Freedman, published by Simon & Schuster) was longlisted for the 2013 Kate Greenaway Medal.

To post a comment, you must register and login.