Following a bidding war, first-time Irish author Derek Landy has signed a three book deal with publishers HarperCollins for a seven figure sum.
While working on his family's cauliflower farm in north Co Dublin, Landy invented a fictional smartly-dressed skeleton detective called Skulduggery Pleasant.
His first book, 'Skulduggery Pleasant', aimed at children between eight and 13, will be officially released on 2 April.
According to The Guardian, the publishing advance is one of the highest paid to an author of children's fiction.
This is Landy's first book; he has previously written screenplays for recent low budget Irish horror films, 'Dead Bodies' and 'Boy Eats Girl'.
