Hachette Children’s Group has acquired two books in a brand-new teen series: INDI RAYE IS TOTALLY… Perfect for fans of Louise Rennison, this is the hilarious debut fiction series from CBBC presenter, Newsround journalist and Capital FM DJ, Lauren Layfield. World Rights were acquired by Polly Lyall Grant, Senior Commissioning Editor in a two-book deal from Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn.
This whip-smart, hugely relatable series stars fourteen-year-old Indi Raye who finds herself writing diary entries when she moves cities after her parents split up. Indi decides that fitting in at her new school will be easier if she totally FAKES IT (of course she’s been featured in Vogue magazine, had loads of boyfriends, and her dad is travelling the world on business rather than recently had an affair), but soon she discovers that telling fabulous fibs might land her in deep water … Can she learn to be her own brilliant self instead of faking it?
Lauren Layfield is one of CBBC’s most popular faces, having spent eight years at the helm of some of their biggest entertainment shows including The Dog Ate My Homework. Lauren is the host of Capital FM’s Early Breakfast Show and a regular reporter for BBC’s The One Show. In 2021, Lauren hosted the ground-breaking Let’s Talk About Periods documentary, aimed at dispelling the stigma around menstruation. This year, she fronted Newsround special Let’s Talk About Sexism where she had important conversations with young people across the UK to get their views and to learn about the impact that sexism can have on people’s lives and futures, and what we can all do to change things. Lauren is also an ambassador for mental health charity Young Minds and has worked with the likes of the NSPCC on online safety.
Lauren Layfield says: ‘I am SO excited for everyone to finally meet their new BFF Indi Raye! My teenage years were the absolute best; laughing with my mates so hard we couldn’t breathe, daydreaming about house parties during English lessons and crying about boys who wouldn’t snog us. I’ve always wanted to immortalise the “dramz” in book form and I have to give the biggest thanks to Hachette Children’s Group and Madeleine Milburn Literacy Agency for helping me achieve the dream!’
Polly Lyall Grant, Senior Commissioning Editor at Hachette Children’s Group, says: ‘We know readers are crying out for more teen fiction and we feel so lucky to be publishing Lauren in this space. Lauren combines her sharp comedy writing with her experience of advocacy work with teenagers to create a stand-out authentic protagonist. The result is one badass heroine Indi Raye, who learns to navigate new friendships, a new job (at the local chippy where she looks and smells like haddock in a hairnet), new crushes (with a not-so-subtle use of FRISKY EYES), and a fair few awks experiences. And there’s plenty more trials and tribulations to come. Bring it on!’
The first book, Indi Raye is Totally Faking It will publish in paperback, eBook, and audio in April 2023. The second book in the series will publish in April 2024.
