‘Ottilie Colter’ sells for ‘record’ sum in three-book German deal

Wednesday, 19 September 2018 Books+Publishing

Hardie Grant Egmont has sold German-language rights to Rhiannon Williams’ Ottilie Colter and the Narroway Hunt, plus two further books by Williams, to Random House Germany imprint cbj Verlag, after a ‘heated’ auction between two of Germany’s largest trade publishers.

cbj Verlag acquired rights to Williams’ trilogy for an undisclosed ‘record’ sum, with the deal negotiated by Hardie Grant Egmont rights manager Joanna Anderson.

The ‘Ottilie Colter’ fantasy trilogy—about a young girl who disguises herself as a boy to infiltrate a male-only monster-hunting organisation—won the 2017 Ampersand Prize for an unpublished manuscript, becoming the prize’s first middle-grade winner.

Publishing director Marisa Pintado said: ‘From the moment we first read Rhiannon Williams’ debut novel, we all knew we had a special adventure on our hands—at once beguiling, action-packed, atmospheric and wildly exciting. The Ottilie Colter books are the perfect feminist adventure for the rebel girls generation, and we have massive ambition for Rhiannon’s future writing career!’

Category: Junior Local news Rights and acquisitions