Andersen Press unveils UNDER GOLDEN SEAS

Andersen Press has announced the publication of Under Golden Seas, the follow-up to On Silver Tides by Sylvia Bishop. It will be out in April, in paperback.

On Silver Tides was Carnegie longlisted, and shortlisted for Peters Children’s Book of the Year, and Under Golden Seas is the second title in a two-book deal secured by publishing director Charlie Sheppard and former commissioning editor Chloe Sackur. They bought world rights from Bryony Woods at Diamond Kahn & Woods Literary Agency, and audio rights for both titles have been sold. Cover art for the series is by Thy Bui.

Under Golden Seas follows Dylan, who was born with two spirits: human and monster. When he and his family dive underwater, they become wyrms, enormous guardians of the seas. Yet Dylan hates his second spirit, and fears he will hurt innocent people. With his family away on a mission to quell a rising danger in the ocean, Dylan takes his chance to change himself for good and feeds his second self to a spirit eater. But things go awry, and Dylan is left half-changed, with the creature ever on his tail. Worse, his family need his help. Dylan must set sail to save them, deciding as he goes who he can trust – and ultimately choose what he truly wishes to be.

Bishop said: “I had a note over my desk while I wrote Under Golden Seas: it said, ‘a love song to being human’. Dylan is a shapeshifter, and in his monstrous form he can explore the world’s oceans, but it’s his human side he cherishes. So, while this is a story of shipwrecks and deep-sea trenches and sea-monsters, and of kelpies and wyrms and mermaids, I hope it is also a story about how extraordinary it is to be alive – to ‘just’ be human. I can’t wait for people to read it!”

Sheppard said: “We are thrilled to be publishing another book set in the incredible world Sylvia has created. She is one of the most exciting authors writing for children and we want as many people as possible to discover and appreciate the astonishing talent she is.”