Italian creator of the popular animated Winx series and Rainbow CEO Iginio Straffi has created a new girl-skewing franchise called Maya Fox, featuring a 17-year-old girl character who speaks with the dead. Co-created by Silvia Brena, former director of Cosmopolitan, Italy, Maya Fox began its life as a full-length novel published by Mondodari in 2008 and soon branched out as a monthly fashion/comic magazine and a much-visited web blog.
Targeting 13 to 17-year-old girls, Maya Fox is also marketed as new fashion property geared towards young women. ‘Love, friendship, fashion and thrills are the keywords of this property, all set in lively and mysterious contemporary London,’ notes the official press release.
The first novel in the four-part series launched in Italy in October 2008 with a print run of 40,000 copies. In 2009 the book will be launched in Latin America (including Brazil), Spain and Portugal by Grupo Planeta, in France by Univers Poche, and in Germany by Carlsen. The other three novels will be published in Italy between 2009 and 2010. The Maya Fox magazine launched in Italy in April 2009 with a print run of 150,000 copies. The magazine will soon be presented to international publishers.
The publishing launch in Italy will be promoted with the help well-known Italian TV personality, Melita, who will play Maya at all promotional events. The comprehensive launch will feature TV, press, and web advertising, buzz marketing and social networks. You can learn more about the fearless teen at www.mayafox.com.
