The Saturday Post: New book deals, movie news & more!

* I am so so so excited about Kimberly Derting’s big news this week, that her new book The Pledge will actually be the first in a trilogy!

Kimberly Derting’s THE PLEDGE series, books 2 and 3, in which a teen girl in an oppressive society, who has a secret ability to speak all languages, meets a mysterious and beautiful teen boy who speaks a language she’s never heard, and discovers she is the key to her country’s survival, to Ruta Rimas and Justin Chanda at McElderry Books, for publication in Fall 2012 and 2013, by Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency (NA).

These days, I am getting weary of every new book being part of a series, but in this case I fully support it. The Pledge is phenomenal, and while it works as a standalone, there is really so much more going on that it will be even more amazing as a trilogy!

* Also, historical fiction guru Philippa Gregory — perhaps best known for The Other Boleyn Girl — is now diving into the world of YA:

Philippa Gregory is trying her hand in the young adult market. The bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl, among other titles, has closed a world rights, four-book deal with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for a historical romance series.

Jon Anderson, president and publisher of S&S Children’s, jointly acquired rights with Ingrid Selberg, director of children’s publishing for S&S UK. Gregory’s husband, Anthony Mason, brokered the deal with S&S (working on behalf of Gregory’s company, Philippa Gregory Ltd.). Venetia Gosling at S&S UK Children’s will be editing the titles and the first book is scheduled for an international hardcover release in summer 2012. The YA series – it will be published simultaneously in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and India – will also be timed to release alongside Gregory’s forthcoming adult trilogy, which S&S acquired in October 2010. (In the U.S., Simon Pulse will be releasing Gregory’s YA series.)

I know it’s been a trend lately for adult authors to try their hand at YA, but having read Gregory, I feel as if this is a fairly natural transition. Sure, she’ll have to tone done some of the more mature scenes, but a lot of the characters she’s been writing about do lean towards the YA age group.

* In the world of book to movie adaptations, The Hunger Games has wrapped filming. Here’s a few more updates for you:

• Top 5 things fans of ‘The Hunger Games’ can look forward to before the movie
• With an $80 million budget, ‘The Hunger Games’ movie could revamp Lionsgate

* Also, a new trailer for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 was released — and I have to say, while this book was not my favorite of the series, I think the movie looks pretty darn awesome:

* One more piece of awesome: Yesterday was the cover reveal for Insurgent, the sequel to Veronica Roth’s Divergent. It has a lighter feel, but the tagline–“One choice can destroy you”–sends a shiver up my spine. What do you think?

For the comments: What are your thoughts on all of this week’s news? Tell us below!