Macmillan Children’s Books acquires ‘side-spittingly’ funny series by debut author Scott Allen
Macmillan Children’s Books is to publish two new middle-grade stories about a professional football team of llamas by debut author Scott Allen. The first book, Llama United, will publish on 4 May 2017, with a sequel publishing in May 2018.
Macmillan Children’s Books is to publish two new middle-grade stories about a professional football team of llamas by debut author Scott Allen. The two-book deal for world rights was secured at auction by Rachel Kellehar, Fiction Editor for the 6+ division, from Gemma Cooper at The Bent Agency.
Fully illustrated in black and white throughout by Sarah Horne, the books will focus on what happens when a group of llamas unknowingly eat the ashes of one of the greatest footballers of all time and inherit his footballing talent. Managed by eleven-year-old Tim, his best friend, Cairo, and Scottish World Cup-winning footballer McCloud, the llamas are entered into the greatest tournament known to man . . . the Cup. The beautiful game is about to get very woolly!
The first book, Llama United, will publish on 4 May 2017, both as a paperback original and an eBook, priced at £6.99, with a sequel featuring the World Cup publishing in May 2018.
Rachel Kellehar, Fiction Editor, says: ‘"This is a heartfelt and genuinely laugh-out-loud read from a very talented debut author, and I am beyond thrilled to be working with Scott on bringing this fantastic team of llamas into the limelight – football has never seemed so funny!"
Venetia Gosling, Publisher, says: "Having been spat at by a llama as a child, I wouldn’t have seen myself as a natural champion for a book about llamas, but this is such a brilliant concept, with such wonderful characters, that I was won over! Scott is a really naturally funny writer and kids are going to adore these stories – who doesn’t love an underdog/llama?"
Scott Allen, Author, says: "I’ve worked in sports journalism for over fifteen years, with football taking up most of my working day. I wanted to see what would happen if llamas were dropped into the ultra-serious world of professional football – hopefully injecting an element of fun and puncturing the footballing stereotypes that fill it."
Scott Allen was brought up in the horse-racing town of Epsom. After discovering he was too tall and heavy to be a jockey he turned his attention to football. At sixteen he started writing for fanzines before becoming a professional sports writer, editor and digital-content specialist. He is a fanatical West Ham supporter, but we won’t hold that against him. Scott now lives in Yorkshire with his family.
Llama United
What happens when eleven llamas unknowingly eat the ashes of one of the greatest footballers of all time? They become brilliant at football, of course! Managed by eleven-year-old Tim, his unusual friend Cairo and Scottish World Cup-winner McCloud (yes that 'happened' apparently), Llama United goes on an amazing cup run. But who wants to lose to a team of stupid llamas? Nobody, that's who!
Rival teams will do anything in their power to stop Llama United in its tracks. When the best cup in the world is at stake, football can be a nasty old business . . .
Scott Allen's Llama United is full of football funnies and laugh-a-minute llamas, illustrated by Sarah Horne.