Ginee Seo Books, an imprint of Atheneum/Simon & Schuster Children’s
Publishing, today announced it has acquired the world rights to Jimmy
Gownley’s popular comic and graphic novel series AMELIA RULES!. The
deal was brokered through an auction by Judith Hansen of the Hansen
Literary Agency. Originally published by Renaissance Press, the AMELIA
RULES! graphic novels and comics have become a favorite with both
critics and fans alike.
Centered around the happenings of ten-year-old spitfire Amelia Louise
McBride, the AMELIA RULES! series captures the true essence of being an
adolescent girl in America today, as Amelia adjusts to life in “small
town America” after her parent’s divorce as she is forced to leave NYC.
“Jimmy is a true creative genius, and AMELIA RULES! has that rare
combination of mass appeal and literary substance that every publisher
dreams about. We are thrilled for Jimmy to be joining the S&S list,
as we work to expand our list with some of the top comic and graphic
novel talent publishing today, and we look forward to making his name
and his characters known to even wider audience beyond his already
substantial following,” said Ginee Seo, VP, Editorial Director of Ginee
Seo Books.
Jimmy Gownley added, "It was important for me to find the perfect home
for AMELIA RULES! and I strongly believe Simon & Schuster and Ginee
Seo books are a great match. I am more excited than ever about Amelia
and kids graphic novels in general"
The plan is for Simon & Schuster to put out reprints of the first
four already published AMELIA RULES! books over the next two years,
with the first reprint AMELIA RULES!: The Whole World’s Crazy to be
published in Spring 2009 and the last reprint AMELIA RULES!: When the
Past is a Present scheduled to be published in Spring 2010. AMELIA
RULES! #5: The Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular will be the first
original publication with the hardcover and paperback scheduled to come
out simultaneously in Fall 2010.
Jimmy Gownley is the son of a coal miner who tried his hand at just
about everything from sports, to music, to theater, and pretty much
enjoyed it all. But being an only child in a small town meant a lot of
free time. Gownley spent his youth with records, books, and most of
all...comics. An avid reader, Gownley compulsively read anything that
crossed his path, starting with "Peanuts" comic strips, which his mom
read to him as a very young child. This was the first thing Jimmy ever
learned to read, and a love of the comic art form was born. Despite
having no money, no talent, and no clue, Gownley published his first
comic, "Shades of Gray Comics and Stories" at age 15 and sold it out of
his high school locker. His self-publishing continued in 2001 when
"Amelia Rules!" was launched amid a flurry of rave reviews. Since its
release, "Amelia Rules!" has been nominated for a total of 7 Eisner
Awards, the Harvey Award, and The Day Prize. The third volume of Amelia
Rules! won a Cybil Award for Best Graphic Novel for kids 12 &
under. Amelia Rules! was the first graphic novel ever carried by
Children's Book of the Month Club and has been translated into German,
Italian, and Spanish. The Greek National Book Center/5th Annual
International Book Fair in Greece held a special exhibit of Amelia
Rules! #18, to be included in their event in summer 2008. The exhibit
tied into this year's topic, Human Rights. Jimmy is co-founder of Kids
Love Comics, a non-profit group that works to promote literacy through
comic books. A musical based on Amelia Rules! was produced in winter
2007, with music written by composer Michael Cohen and performed in New
Hampshire. The musical has sparked interest from other theater
companies who are interested in performing it. Gownley lives in
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with his wife Karen and twin daughters Stella
and Anna.
