Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers announced Wednesday that in April 2011, it will publish The Last Chemical Garden, the first teen novel in a trilogy written by twenty-five-year old, first time author Lauren DeStefano. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Senior Editor Alexandra Cooper negotiated the six-figure deal with agent Barbara Poelle from the Irene Goodman Literary Agency, which includes first serial domestic and merchandising rights. International rights have already been sold in Taiwan, France, and to S&S UK in the United Kingdom.

Also on Wednesday, it was announced that Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, will publish the last Olivia title from Ian Falconer, Olivia Goes to Venice. Simon & Schuster holds audio as well as translation rights for all languages, and the book is currently slated to be released in Fall 2010 with a 500,000 first printing.

Hilary Duff has signed a world rights deal with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers to publish her first-ever young adult fiction series, it was announced today. The first novel in the multiple-book series, entitled Elixir, publishes in hardcover in October 2010. Also part of the deal are world rights for a nonfiction title to be published in spring 2012 concerning the challenges faced by children of divorce.

Duff released a statement within the announcement of the deal, but it should be noted that multiple efforts by my younger brother to reach Duff have been unsuccessful for years. At least now we know what she was up to.