Fresh from winning a gold medal at London 2012, Olympian Alex Morgan has landed a 3-book deal with Simon & Schuster’s Books for Young Readers (SBYR). The American soccer star will be penning her debut middle-grade series, The Kicks.
The not-yet-titled first book will be released in Summer 2013. SBYR editor Kristin Ostby negotiated the deal with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment literary agent Eric Simonoff. Ostby, who will edit the manuscript, secured both world English and audio rights.

Morgan (pictured, via) had this statement in the release: “It seems like only yesterday, I was a kid myself, getting my first taste of the joys of teamwork, good sportsmanship, acceptance. Playing team sports is one of the best ways I can think of to develop strong values, good work ethics, and a health-focused lifestyle. This series will no doubt widen the appeal of soccer and bring an appreciation of the sport to readers who might not otherwise have that opportunity.”