Daniel Kraus to Publish THE DEATH AND LIFE OF ZEBULON FINCH, Vol. 1 and 2

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, announced today plans to publish The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volumes 1 and 2, by Daniel Kraus: a bold, sweeping tale about a corrupt young man whose death is just the beginning of his 200-year redemption. The agreement was negotiated by Christian Trimmer, Senior Editor, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and Richard Abate of 3 Arts Entertainment. Simon & Schuster acquired World English rights, including audio. The books will be edited by Christian Trimmer and will go on sale in Fall 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Daniel is an acclaimed author of three previous young adult novels. His debut, The Monster Variations (Random House), was selected for New York Public Library's "100 Best Stuff for Teens" list. Fangoria called his second novel, Rotters (Random House), "a new horror classic." It received three starred reviews, won the Odyssey Award and the Parents' Choice Gold Award, and was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist. His most recent novel, Scowler (Random House), garnered two starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild selection. Daniel is also the coauthor of the upcoming novel Trollhunters (Hyperion), written with award-winning director Guillermo del Toro and scheduled to publish in Fall 2014. Kraus is currently a senior editor at Booklist magazine. He has written regularly for Cosmopolitan, Playboy, Maxim, and Salon.com. He is also the director of six feature films.

"I'm in awe of Daniel's talent, ambition, and confidence," said Christian Trimmer. "Like Daniel's previous novels, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch is expertly crafted, but it showcases Daniel's sense of humor and sure hand with romance in ways readers have not yet seen."

In the tradition of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing and Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch, Volumes 1 and 2, promise to be dark, heartbreaking, funny, compelling, and ambitious at every turn. "What Dan is reaching for with these two volumes is nothing short of epic," said Justin Chanda, VP, Publisher of S&S Books for Young Readers. "And after reading his first pages, we all have every confidence in his vision and his ability to pull it off. Prepare to be wowed. 'Epic' might not even be a big enough word!"

The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch is not just one young man's tale. Rather, it is the story of America itself, the story of what it means to be human in a world so often lacking in humanity. "This is an idea I've been developing for fifteen years," said author Daniel Kraus. "It's big in every sense of the word, and I'm pouring every bit of my heart, soul, and mind into it. I think it's safe to say no one's ever seen anything quite like it."