Whereas Fantasy’s most famous author, J.K. Rowling, has turned to Crime-Fiction, one of Crime’s most well-known authors is turning to fantasy.
Late last year, Scholastic issued a press release expressing their excitement at having acquired the rights to publish a novel called The Finisher by Crime Fiction writer, David Baldacci. This was a huge acquisition for the publisher, Baldacci’s adult thrillers having sold a total of more than 110 million copies.
Despite originally handing the manuscript in and having an offer made, Baldacci’s agent decided to come clean before release. Upon learning that it was Baldacci whose manuscript she had been enjoying so much, Rachel Griffiths, Executive Editor, Scholastic Press, said: “It was the best kind of surprise to discover that an author beloved for writing so brilliantly about our world has a secret love and talent for creating his own magic world.”
More about The Finisher
Fourteen-year-old Vega Jane lives in the village of Wormwood, where life is nasty, brutish and short. Villagers have been told that there is nothing outside of Wormwood except for the Quag, a foul forest filled with terrifying beasts. No one comes, no one goes, and Wormwood has stayed this way for generations—until Vega’s mentor Quentin Herms disappears. Quentin leaves Vega a secret message hinting that there’s a way out of Wormwood, and something extraordinary on the other side. As Vega begins to investigate, she realizes that Wormwood is a village built on dangerous lies. And that powerful people are willing to kill in order to keep it that way. Soon Vega is careening down a path that will either lead straight to the truth…or straight to an early grave.
In a recent interview, Baldacci explained that it took four years of research to fully plot his ideas and find the right voice, “I reread some of my favorite fantasies and read books on mythology, religion, and ancient worlds,” he said. “I also researched old English and British slang. But it wasn’t until June 2012 that everything clicked for me. I suddenly knew who Vega was, and knew the story’s setting and direction. I decided to leave the time frame a little ambiguous – it could be long, long ago or it could be post-apocalypse.”
The Finisher will have a pretty large first printing of 350,000 copies and Scholastic’s marketing plans (a promotional video series, strong social media strategy, online and mobile ads, retail floor displays, and a TV/radio author tour) show that they are feeling confident that this series can do very well for them.
This novel is set for release on March 4, 2014 and will be aimed at readers ages 9-13. However, Baldacci’s comments suggest that he will play around in this genre for a while, so it may only be a matter of time before we see a novel aimed at older readers: “I’m heading into a new phase of my life … It’s almost as if I’m returning to an earlier phase. I still love writing thrillers, but fantasy is very new and fresh to me, and I find that has really ratcheted up my excitement as a writer.”
Jennie Ivins