Press Release: Deals Done
HarperCollins Signs New Series With Picture Book Star Oliver Jeffers
Posted at 2:22PM Monday 08 Mar 2010
London, 8th March 2010—HarperCollins, publisher of award winning author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, today announced that the bestselling picture book star has created a major new, highly collectible character series for them called The Hueys, which are set to be a sure fire hit with children everywhere and will be supported by a multi-platform global launch.In a new deal, to sit alongside Oliver's existing publishing, Kate Burns, Deputy Publisher signed a four-book deal for world rights (inc. TV, merchandising, licensing, film, eBook, eVersion, digital) from Paul Moreton at The Bell Lomax Moreton Agency. The Hueys will feature a group of quirky creatures whose leftof-centre humour has such immediate child-appeal that soon every book featuring the idiosyncratic and engaging characters will be avidly collected by children the world over. Their view on life is singular, witty and perfectly child-centred. These attributes make The Hueys highly adaptable for film/TV and the simplicity of the distinctive characters lends them to a broad range of collectible licensed consumer products. The Hueys will launch in 2012 and be supported by a high impact, multiplatform marketing campaign targeting parents and their children alongside a high profile PR campaign that will include two visits per year by Oliver to his creative home in the UK from his current base in New York. HarperCollins published Oliver Jeffers' first picture book in 2004, and since then he has created five further picture books to much critical acclaim, including The Great Paper Caper, The Incredible Book Eating Boy and Lost and Found, which has also been made into a BAFTA award winning animation. Oliver has won the Irish Book Awards, Blue Peter Book of the Year and the Nestle Children's Book Prize, not to mention the many more short listings including the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. Oliver has now sold almost 1.6 million books worldwide, been translated into 19 languages, and continues to demonstrate a unique narrative voice in the world of picture books. His latest book, The Heart and the Bottle is published this month, and in autumn 2010 the much anticipated new title, Up and Down, sees the return of two of his most popular characters, Boy and Penguin. Commenting on the deal, Kate Burns said "I am thrilled to announce the signing of a new character range from the inimitable Oliver Jeffers – perfect for a multi-platform launch to target today's technology-friendly child. The Hueys publishing programme will dovetail brilliantly with Oliver's existing and ongoing publishing for HarperCollins, so his fans can still look forward to classic picture books as well as enjoying his new character series – after all, you can't have too much of a good thing."
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