Was able to start my day today with the news that editor Amanda Rutter has announced the acquisition of my Zenn Scarlett young adult science fiction series by Strange Chemistry Books. I alluded to this in an earlier post and one or two (OK, eighteen or nineteen…) places on the blog, but couldn’t reveal specifics until now, lest I draw the laser-eyed attention of Strange Chemistry’s darkly-brooding parental unit, Angry Robot, with who-knows-what repercussions (actually, they all seem quite pleasant at both AR and SC. Strange and angry, but pleasant). Here’s the news-flash from the Strange Chemistry site:
ANOTHER ONE JOINS THE FAMILY!
Strange Chemistry, the YA imprint of Angry Robot Books, is delighted to announce the signing of seriously talented debut science fiction author Christian Schoon. Christian has been signed in a two book deal for World English Rights, negotiated between Strange Chemistry’s Amanda Rutter and Adam Schear of DeFiore & Co. in New York. The first of these two novels will be called Zenn Scarlett and will be published in the Spring of 2013, with a second book in the same series to follow.
About Zenn Scarlett
Zenn Scarlett is a bright, determined, occasionally a-little-too-smart-for-her-own-good 15-year-old girl training hard to become an exoveterinarian. She’s specializing in the treatment of exotic alien life forms, mostly large and generally dangerous.
Her novice year of training at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars will find her working with alien patients: from whalehounds the size of a hay barn to a baby Kiran Sunkiller, a colossal floating creature that will grow up to carry a whole sky-city on its back.
After a series of inexplicable animal escapes from the school and other near-disasters, the Cloister is in real danger of being shut down by a group of alien-hating officials. If that happens, Zenn knows only too well the grim fate awaiting the creatures she loves.
Now, she must unravel the baffling events plaguing her school, before someone is hurt or killed, before everything she cares about is ripped away from her and her family forever. To solve this mystery – and live to tell about it – Zenn will have to put her new exovet skills to work in ways she never imagined, and in the process learn just how powerful compassion and empathy can be.
About Christian Schoon
Christian has a life-long affection for animals and deep appreciation for science (fictional and actual) and says he’s constantly surprised to find himself living a universe where he gets to spend his time thinking and writing about exactly those subjects. His writing career includes several years as an in-house copywriter/scriptwriter for Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, followed by freelance copywriting for the entertainment industry and scriptwriting for live-action and animated T.V. Currently, he writes from his 150-year-old farmstead in Iowa, which he shares with a fluctuating number of horses (generally less than a dozen, but not always), 30 or so cats, an Aussie mix canine, three ferrets and “…a surprisingly patient wife.”
Christian is represented by Adam Schear of DeFiore & Co. in New York. When Adam informed him that Strange Chemistry, daughter-spawn of the almighty Angry Robot, was interested in publishing his work, Christian reports his pleasant sense of incredulity concerning the universe was ratcheted up several notches.
He can be found online at his blog: www.christianschoon.com
Strange Chemistry’s Amanda Rutter says: “When I read Zenn Scarlett I was astonished at the depth and breadth of imagination on display. Even better, Christian has written a breathtaking story about compassion and truth, featuring a teen character that people will really take to their hearts.”
Unquote… and that’s the news, film at 11. Will report updates as the publishing process moves forward.
Woohoo!–looking forward to reading the books!
ps-and I agree about the patient wife
Thanks for dropping by, Nancy! And you’re right. Who else but Kat would put with me AND a ranchito full of other equally needy life-forms??