A Norwich couple has written a new book for young readers and a Hanover publishing firm is creating a new imprint to produce it.

Jon and Pamela Voelkel are the authors of Middleworld, the first book in their trilogy The Jaguar Stones.

It took some convincing to get this book into print -- it's due for release in September. Peter Kraus, the youngest son of Marisa Smith and Eric Kraus (the owners of Smith & Kraus Publishers in Hanover) pressured his parents into publishing Middleworld. His pitch was something like “Mom, Dad, it's the next Harry Potter!”

So Smith & Kraus, a leading American publisher of theater books, has created Smith & Sons to publish both The Jaguar Stones trilogy and other titles for readers in the middle grades.

Middleworld pits a pampered teenager from contemporary Boston against the Death Lords of the Maya Underworld. Knowing how these books usually work, my money's on the kid.

“I love the book,” Smith said in an e-mail about it. “The pace is rapid fire, great characters, fascinating setting.” The Voelkels, who met in London where they both worked at an advertising agency, have also designed the covers and a contest just ended at Norwich Public Library to choose from among five designs.

It all sounds like fun, and if the Voelkels have a hit on their hands they won't be the first Vermont writers with backgrounds in advertising. Chris Bohjalian worked for an advertising and P.R. firm in Burlington before making it big as a writer of popular novels. Keep an eye on this page for more about the book as it draws nearer to publication.