Bob the Vampire Slayer-Builder?
Orchard Books have just bought rights to Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse by Bob the Builder creator, Curtis Jobling. Jessica Clarke, editorial director, bought UK and Commonwealth rights for two titles in the series from Kim Ryan at Penguin Random House US. Publication is set for Summer 2016.
Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse is an action-adventure series introducing Max Helsing, the descendent of the original vampire-killer, as he battles modern-day monsters in between schoolwork and monster-slaying training.
Descended from a long line of monster hunters, Max Helsing does a pretty good job of being an eighth grader by day and keeping his town safe from demons, ghouls, and the occasional mummy by night. That is, until he turns thirteen and discovers he’s been cursed by an ancient vampire who wants him dead – at any cost. To save the world – and his life – Max must rely on his wise-cracking best friend, cantankerous mentor, computer genius neighbor, and brand-new puppy. He’ll need all their help and more to break the Thirteenth Curse!
Jessica Clarke said, “We’re so thrilled that Orchard will be the home of Max Helsing – a monster hunter with more fight than Alex Rider and more wise-cracking quips than Percy Jackson. I’ve long been a fan of Curtis’s YA novels, so it’s such a privilege to be working with him on this fantastic new series that I know middle-grade readers will love.”
While Curtis Jobling told the Nest, “I’m delighted that Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse is being published by Orchard, where my career as an author began (Frankenstein’s Cat was published by Orchard’s sister publishing house, Hodder, in 2001). Max Helsing is a monster mash in the purest sense of the phrase, blending my favourite genres – horror, fantasy and action. I’m certainly thrilled to be putting the gore into Orchard!”
Curtis Jobling (www.curtisjobling.com and www.badablingthing.com) is the author of the Wereworld series, published by Puffin. He’s also known for being the designer of the BBC show Bob the Builder and for his Hodder-published picture book, Frankenstein’s Cat.
