miss_peregrines_home_for_peculiar_children_Bird_outline_art - H 2015
Courtesy of Twentieth Century FoxMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children author Ransom Riggs has signed a two-book deal with Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.
First up is Tales of the Peculiar, an illustrated collection of fairy tales set in the Peregrine universe that will publish in fall 2016, just ahead of the release of Tim Burton’s film adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. In a statement, Riggs said, “I’m absolutely thrilled … to finally get these peculiar tales, which have been bouncing around my brain for years, down onto paper and out into the world.”
Riggs’ second book under the deal will be an all-new YA story not connected to the Peregrine series.
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“Ransom Riggs is undisputedly one of the most visionary authors publishing today. It is truly an honor to become a part of Miss Peregrine’s world, and I can imagine few opportunities more thrilling than working with Ransom to tell all-new stories,” said Julie Strauss-Gabel, vice president and publisher of Dutton Children’s, in a statement.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children follows 16-year-old Jacob from small-town Florida to a remote island off the coast of Wales in the wake of a family tragedy, where he finds Miss Peregrine’s ruined home and the shocking fate of the children who lived there — and may still be alive. The really cool part of the book is the photo illustrations of the kids — actual early 20th century vintage photos from Riggs’ own collection that are touched up a bit to be extra creepy.
The book has been a runaway success since it was published in 2011, selling more than 4 million copies and spending more than 100 weeks on The New York Times‘ best-seller list. It was named one of Amazon’s 100 YA Books to Read in a Lifetime. Riggs has written two follow-up books — Hollow City and Library of Souls — in the series. The works have been translated into 40 languages.
The film version of Peregrine is set for release on Dec. 25, 2016. In addition to Burton directing, the film stars Asa Butterfield, Eva Green, Samuel L. Jackson, Rupert Everett, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench and Allison Janney. Jane Goldman (X-Men: First Class) wrote the script.
The deal is a big move for Riggs, who goes from Peregrine’s original publisher, Quirk Books, to Dutton, where he will be edited by Strauss-Gabel, who edits John Green and other prominent YA writers. (Fun fact: Riggs and Green are friends from their days together at Kenyon College in Ohio.) Peregrine was Riggs’ first novel. Prior to that, he’d written a tongue-in-cheek guide to being a detective and a coffee-table book culled from his large collection of vintage snapshots. He attended USC’s film school and currently lives in Los Angeles.
Riggs is represented by Jodi Reamer of Writers House. Strauss-Gabel represented Dutton.
