HACHETTE AUSTRALIA ACQUIRES SELF-PUBLISHING PHENOMENON – ZARKORA

HACHETTE AUSTRALIA ACQUIRES SELF-PUBLISHING PHENOMENON –  ZARKORA

Hachette Australia is excited to announce the acquisition of Nicholas and Alison Lochel’s four-book Zarkora series. 

Zarkora is the story of brothers Neleik and Ervine Fyrelit, two poor farm boys whose parents have been killed by a mysterious and powerful stranger. In the first book, THE FYRELIT TRAGEDY, the kidnapping of their little sister by that same stranger begins an epic quest to rescue her and discover their family’s mysterious past. Along the way they encounter magical creatures, loyal friends, dangerous enemies and strange new lands.

This children’s fantasy adventure has been a self-publishing phenomenon. Brother and sister duo Nicholas and Alison published the first two books to huge success, particularly in their home town of Brisbane. Their talent and dedication saw them shortlisted for an Express Media Award for best work or project by a young person or young people under 30 in Queensland in 2013.

Associate Publisher Suzanne O’Sullivan said, ‘I absolutely fell in love with the Zarkora books. It is one of those rare series that feels simultaneously fresh and classic, and I was gripped by the Fyrelit brothers’ adventure. Nicholas and Alison are incredibly dynamic — they have a huge career ahead of them.’

Fiona Hazard, Publishing Director, said, ‘We are all so impressed by Nicholas and Alison’s talent and drive, and are excited to be bringing their work to the wide audience it deserves, across Australia and around the world.’

Nicholas and Alison Lochel said, ‘After an incredible self-publishing journey, we are absolutely thrilled to embark on a new adventure with the wonderful team at Hachette Australia, to bring our epic tale of two brothers to readers everywhere.’

A new and fully revised edition of the first book in the Zarkora series, THE FYRELIT TRADEGY, is scheduled for release in July 2015. THE LOST KINGDOM will be published in November 2015, and THE MARK OF THE JACKAL and THE LAST STAND OF FYNAGLYDE will follow in 2016.