So the news is out – my next novel is the middle grade detective adventure Candy, published by Scholastic UK in June 2018. That’s less than two months away!
(You can pre-order it from Amazon if you’re so inclined).
It’s been a strange old journey – frankly, it’s a huge relief just finally being able to mention it! The book pre-sold in a number of countries, so there are several editions coming out this year in addition to the UK one. It’s been a bit of a roller-coaster!
It’s been fantastic working with Scholastic too, especially my amazing editor, Sophie, and I adore the cover and internal illustrations by Mark Beech – I can’t wait for people to see them!
I think Candy may well appeal to grown-ups as well as children – I’ve certainly tried to do that! – and it’s also, it seems to me, my most accessible book – it’s fast-paced and fun, while still dealing with some big themes.
The full announcement from my agent’s below, and the cover!
Due to be published on June 7th, 2018, Scholastic have described the novel as ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Bugsy Malone for 9+ readers’. In CANDY, Lavie has created a thrilling, chocolate-mad world that leaps from the page, and his distinct voice and deployed film-noir style perfectly suit the action. He has created a brilliantly accessible and inspiring heroine in Nelle Faulkner, a determined, clever girl willing to follow any lead to get to the bottom of a complex conspiracy.
Here is the blurb:
In a city where candy is a crime and biscuits have been banned, Nelle Faulker is a 12-year-old private detective looking for her next client.
So when a notorious candy gangster asks for her help, Nelle is on the case.
Swept into a secret world of sweet smugglers and chocolate crooks, can Nelle and her friends find a way to take the cake? Or will they come to a sticky end…
The Scholastic edition is lavishly illustrated with internal black and white art by Mark Beech, who also provides the cover (above, full-wrap below).
The novel has been hotly anticipated, with foreign rights pre-sold in Italy to Mondadori in a five-figure deal (at auction), in Germany to Loewe (also at auction), in France to Bragelonne, in the Czech Republic to Argo, in Poland to Zysk and in Romania to Nemira. Further deals are anticipated.
Lavie said: ‘I can honestly say I feel like a kid in a candy store! When I set out to chronicle the adventures of Nelle and her friends, I never dreamed of the level of interest the story would generate. I can’t wait to finally hold CANDY in my hands!’
This is Lavie’s first book for children, following a string of award-winning novels for adults that saw him scoop the World Fantasy Award, among others.