The Deadly Daylight by Ash Harrier sold to US publisher Holiday House

Pantera Press has sold World English rights (excluding ANZ) to Ash Harrier’s The Deadly Daylight to leading independent publisher Holiday House, the first American publishing house founded to publish only children’s books.

The first Alice England Mysteries book, The Deadly Daylight introduces curious, truthful and smart twelve-year-old Alice England, who works in her father’s funeral home and receives messages from the dead. When she comes across the peculiar case of George Devenish, who was allergic to sunlight, Alice is convinced there’s more to his death than meets the eye. It seems the truth of George’s death may never see the light of day – unless Alice and her companions Violet and Cal can put the clues together and solve a mystery much bigger than anybody expected.

Holiday House editor Laura Kincaid said, “When I picked up the manuscript, I fell in love with Alice’s voice. Her sincerity and quirks are so endearing. It was refreshing to see a character who is never asked to change who she is for others, but whose differences only make her more likeable and clever. We’re excited to help share Alice’s story with more readers.”

Ash Harrier said, “I’m thrilled that Alice England is bringing her sideways manner of looking at the world into the US and UK. I hope she connects with many young readers, making them laugh and wonder.”

The Deadly Daylight will be published in the Spring of 2024, and distributed into the UK through Penguin Random House.

The second Alice England Mysteries book, The Eerie Excavation, is published by Pantera Press on 28 February 2023, and sees the return of Alice and her friends Violet and Cal, and another mystery for them to solve.

Ash Harrier lives in the Perth hills region of Western Australia with her partner and two daughters. She is an Ambassador for the Books in Homes Australia charity, which helps children build their home libraries. Writing as Sasha Wasley, she is the author of commercial adult fiction, including Spring Clean for the Peach Queen (2021), A Caravan like a Canary (2022), and Snapshots from Home (forthcoming in July 2023).

 

 

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For further information please contact Sarah Hollingsworth T: 0438 078 552  E: sarah.hollingsworth@panterapress.com