More than two years ago Pascal and David Dabel left the Dabel Brothers Publishing, which they had helped to found with their brothers Ernst and Les.  While Ernst and Les have continued to publish graphic novels and comics and are now working with Dynamite Entertainment, David and Pascal have been out of the field until their recent decision to found their own imprint, Sea Lion Books. 

 

David Dabel told ICv2 that Sea Lion will publish both graphic novels and traditional prose novels.  The company’s first two volumes, which include a graphic novel adaptation of Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist and Shadow Walker, the first book in a new post-apocalyptic Y.A. prose series from L.A. Banks (the creator of The Vampire Huntress Legends), will both be published in November.

 

Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, which was first published in 1988, is an allegorical novel that has become a true publishing phenomenon.  In spite of not having a huge marketing budget, The Alchemist spread across the globe largely through word of mouth and stellar reviews.  It has sold more than 65 million copies in over 150 countries and been translated into 56 languages, which makes it the most translated book by a living author.  The Alchemist was optioned by Warner Bros. in 2003, but the property languished until 2008 when the Weinstein Company acquired the rights for Laurence Fishburne, who will both direct and star in the film version. 

 

David Dabel told ICv2 that Coelho has been very involved in the graphic novel adaptation of his novel.  He has seen all the art and provided feedback on nearly every aspect of the project including the character designs.  Sea Lion's Derek Ruiz penned the adaptation, while Daniel Sampere provided the art for the ample 208-page graphic novel adaptation of The Alchemist, which will have a cover price of $22.99 and will be age-rated 13+.  Sea Lion is co-publishing The Alchemist along with HarperOne, which published the prose version of Coelho’s novel here in the U.S.

 

In the spring of 2011 Sea Lion is also set to publish, Storm Born Vol.1, a graphic novel created by the New York Times bestselling author Richelle Mead.  Look for more announcements from Sea Lion Books at the New York Comic-Con where the new company will be exhibiting.