A NORTH YORKSHIRE vicar who sold his motorbike to fund the publication of his novel has sold the US rights for a six-figure sum.

The Rev Graham Taylor, Vicar of Cloughton, near Scarborough, has received a £314,000 advance for his novel Shadowmancer after originally self-publishing it in Britain.

The thriller now stands sixth in the children's fiction best-seller list after selling 80,000 copies in the first four weeks of release.

Mr Taylor, 43, said he was "absolutely astounded" by the deal, particularly as JK Rowling reportedly received a US advance of £100,000 for her first Harry Potter story seven years ago.

He said: "It's like a fairytale. If I'd gone on the advice I was given, I'd never have published it."

The married father of three had originally published the novel himself at a cost of £3,500 after a publisher told him no one would touch the story about Christianity and black magic in the 18th century.

But UK company Faber published the book ten months later after successful sales at Waterstones bookshops.

US publisher Penguin Putnam Books will release the novel in May 2004, with rights to the book also being sold in Germany, Japan and Spain.

Nancy Paulsen, publisher of Putnam Children's, said: "Ever since college I have hoped to read another book as foreboding and compelling as Bram Stoker's Dracula. I think GP Taylor has created one with Shadowmancer."

Mr Taylor is now half-way through writing his second novel, Wormwood, which will be released by Faber in June 2004.

Updated: 10:53 Wednesday, July 23, 2003