Tyndale House Publishers has signed best-selling children's fantasy author G.P. Taylor to a multiple book deal to publish "The Dopple Ganger Chronicles," a new series of "illustronovellas" featuring manga-style graphics.

Illustrated novels that blend the genres of fiction and graphic novels, illustronovellas are designed to connect with young, visually-oriented readers. The series will feature at least six books, with the first book, The First Escape, scheduled for release this fall, Tyndale officials said. A leading U.K.-based graphic novel publisher, Markosia will provide illustrations for the series, which will feature three children who live and work in an orphanage.

Tyndale Vice President and Publisher Doug Knox said the company "is energized by Taylor's vision to introduce an image-driven generation to the benefits of reading."

Taylor noted that the first book has been tested in some schools in the U.K. "with great results." He had been "amazed at how the book has got children into reading," he said. "This is my desire-to see more children read with no one left behind."

A former policeman and Anglican priest, Taylor-who lives in Scarborough, England-has written Shadowmancer (Charisma House/Penguin Putnam), which reached No. 1 on the New York Times Children's Chapter best-seller list in 2004 and has been translated into 48 languages. His other novels include Wormwood and Tersias the Oracle (both Penguin Putnam), and The Shadowmancer Returns: The Curse of Salamander Street (Realms/Penguin Putnam).

• Prev
• Next