Hachette acquires self-published children’s fantasy-adventure series

Hachette Australia has acquired a self-published children’s fantasy-adventure series from Brisbane brother and sister Nicholas and Alison Lochel.

The four-book ‘Zarkora’ series ‘is the story of brothers Neleik and Ervine Fyrelit, two poor farm boys whose parents have been killed by a mysterious and powerful stranger,’ Hachette said in a statement. ‘In the first book, The Fyrelit Tragedy, the kidnapping of their little sister by that same stranger begins an epic quest to rescue her and discover their family’s mysterious past. Along the way they encounter magical creatures, loyal friends, dangerous enemies and strange new lands.’

The authors have self-published the first two books ‘to huge success, particularly in their home town of Brisbane’, and were shortlisted for an Express Media Award for best work or project by a young person or young people under 30 in Queensland in 2013, the publisher said.

Hachette associate publisher Suzanne O’Sullivan described ‘Zarkora’ as ‘one of those rare series that feels simultaneously fresh and classic’.

A ‘new and fully revised edition’ of the first book, The Fyrelit Tradegy, is due out in July 2015. Subsequent books will follow in November 2015 and in 2016.

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