Rachel Wade, Senior Commissioning Editor at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world rights from Marianne Gunn O’Connor at the Marianne Gunn O’Connor Literary, Film & TV Agency for Hegarty’s The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams series, illustrated by Jeff Crowther, with the first title publishing in Summer 2022 and the second and third books to follow in 2023.

The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams is illustrated throughout and is a high-speed, high-concept story with a heart-warming family dynamic at its centre. When Limpet’s mum opens an ice-cream shop full of her favourite new flavours: mushroom and tuna ice cream, roast parsnip and gravy, Limpet’s not too sure. He likes a nice, safe life. His favourite ice-cream flavour is vanilla. But when wicked Mr Fluffy arrives with his Mega Emporium of Amazing and Spectacular Ice Creams, Limpet knows he’s got to fight back. And there are magic ingredients on his doorstep which can solve all his worries, if only he can get the recipe just right…

Rachel Wade says, “Shane is one of the brightest talents on the HCG list and we are over the moon to be building him with this exceptional new series. The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams series really is wish fulfilment in its purest form, and its hero Limpet will melt the hearts of all who encounter him. I couldn’t be happier to be working with Shane at this exciting new stage in his career.”

Shane Hegarty says, “I’m so excited to be sharing The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams, which I’ve had so much fun writing. The story of Limpet and his friends as they face off against the dastardly Mr Fluffy is for anyone who likes jokes, ice cream, adventure, magic, silliness, more ice cream, chickens, cliffhangers, ninja fairies and even more ice cream. And Jeff Crowther’s fantastic illustrations are the extra special treat on top.”

Shane’s writing has been shortlisted for an abundance of awards. His younger middle grade title Boot was shortlisted for the Sainsbury’s Book Award, nominated for the An Post Irish Book Awards and chosen as Unesco Dublin City Of Literature Citywide Read in 2020. Darkmouth was nominated for the Waterstones Prize, the An Post Irish Book Awards and the Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards. Before becoming a full-time writer, Shane Hegarty was a journalist and editor of the Irish Times, and worked in radio and the music business. He is the author of the bestselling series for younger readers Boot, and the middle-grade series Darkmouth. Hegarty lives near Dublin with his wife and a brutally honest young readers focus group – otherwise known as his four children.

Jeff Crowther’s work has appeared in picture books, graphic novels, magazines, educational publications and on television. The Shop of Impossible Ice Creams will be his UK fiction debut.