Daniel Handler, aka “Lemony Snicket,” has just signed a deal with the UK’s Egmont Press to publish a new four-book, middle-grade series starting in 2012. Snicket commented to BBC News: “I can neither confirm nor deny that I have begun research into a new case, and I can neither confirm nor deny that the results are as dreadful and unnerving as A Series of Unfortunate Events. However, I can confirm that Egmont will be publishing these findings.”
According to the New York Times, Snicket has not yet sold the books in the US, but his HarperCollins editor, Susan Rich, has been working with him on the series.
Snicket fans can look forward to the 2010 publication of a picture book, 13 Words, which Snicket worked on with the artist Maira Kalman.
The Series of Unfortunate Events was a publishing sensation, and the first three books inspired a 2004 film starring Jim Carrey.
I loved the movie and wish someone would do a sequel — of course, using the same actors and actresses and with the same dry wit as in the stories. But I guess I’ll just have to dream.
M