Orson Scott Card to Publish New Young Adult Series

Orson Scott Card, Internationally Bestselling Author, to Publish New Young Adult Series

Orson Scott Card, author of the enduring bestseller ENDER'S GAME and winner of the 2008 YALSA Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Contribution to Young Adult Literature, will publish an exciting new series for younger readers with Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. Card has published numerous works in many genres, but is best known for his science fiction and fantasy work. Anica Rissi from Simon Pulse acquired World English rights to the first three books in this as-yet-untitled Young Adult series through Barbara Bova at The Barbara Bova Literary Agency. The series-launching debut hardcover title is set to be published in Spring 2011.

"We have always been fans of Orson Scott Card's fantasy work here at Simon & Schuster, and I hope this upcoming series will be a wonderful way to introduce longtime fans to compelling young adult literature, while inviting new readers to discover Card's legendary science fiction writing through an innovative, well-imagined new world," said Bethany Buck, Vice President and Publisher of Simon Pulse.

In the planned 2011 series, which combines elements of steam punk and fantasy, readers will meet teenaged Ligg and follow him on a quest to save his world from destruction and uncover the truth behind the Tender's prophecy.

Card himself adds, "While young readers have responded very well to Ender's Game and the Shadow series, this will be my first work of fiction specifically aimed at that audience. Since they are the most demanding and least forgiving of readers, my burden is to tell an exciting story without any of the digressions that adult readers take in stride. At the same time, I must take the creation of the world and the characters every bit as seriously as in any of my adult fiction. If I do my job right, adults are as likely to enjoy the story of Ligg's discovery of his world and all the human races that inhabit it as kids are."

Orson Scott Card is the Hugo and Nebula award-winning author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which are widely read by adults and younger readers. Besides these and other science fiction novels, Card writes contemporary fantasy, biblical novels, the American frontier fantasy series The Tales of Alvin Maker, poetry, and many plays and scripts. Besides his writing, he teaches occasional classes and workshops and directs plays. He recently began a long term position as a professor of writing and literature at Southern Virginia University. Card currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, with his wife, Kristine Allen Card, and their youngest child, Zina Margaret.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN'S PUBLISHING

Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, one of the leading children's book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin Paperbacks, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Libros para ninos, Little Simon(R), Little Simon Inspirations(TM), Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, Simon Scribbles, and Simon Spotlight(R). While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and best-selling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy(TM), Henry & Mudge(R), The Hardy Boys(R), Nancy Drew(R), The Spiderwick Chronicles, Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts(R), Nickelodeon's(R) Dora the Explorer(R), Blue's Clues(R) and SpongeBob SquarePants(R), and Mirage studios' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(TM). For more information about Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, visit our website at http://www.simonsayskids.com/.

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