Venetia Gosling, Editorial Director of Simon & Schuster Children’s Books in London, has acquired world rights in two teenage ghost novels by Curtis Jobling.  The first novel, entitled Haunt, will be published in 2013, with the sequel following in 2014. The agent was John Jarrold.

Curtis is the author of four Wereworld fantasy novels published successfully by Puffin on both sides of the Atlantic, with two more volumes already signed up.  He said, of this deal:

“I’m delighted to be working with Venetia and Simon & Schuster on Haunt. The book is ultimately about friendship, and how not even death’s bony fingers can tear it apart. I wanted to marry comedy and the supernatural together and write a ghostly tale from the point of view of a teenager whose life has been stolen away on the cusp of great things. Well, on the cusp of snogs from the girl of his dreams, anyway. I wondered whether an awkward, nerdy youth would draw on some profound inner power when faced with a limbo existence, haunting his best friend. As ill luck would have it, he becomes an awkward, nerdy ghost. I’d like to say that this isn’t semi-autobiographical, but who am I kidding?”

Curtis Jobling designed the BAFTA-winning Bob the Builder and is also the creator of Frankenstein’s Cat, the BBC’s hit children’s animation series based upon his book of the same name. In addition he has numerous shows in development with Disney, the BBC and others.