'Peter Pan' sequel prepares to fly

LONDON, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- "Peter Pan in Scarlet" was revealed Friday as the sequel to J.M. Barrie's classic tale of pirates, fairies, friendship and a boy who wouldn't grow up.

The book -- written by award-winning British author Geraldine McCaughrean -- promises "high adventure and swashbuckling danger" when it comes out Oct. 5, the BBC reported.

McCaughrean, 54, was commissioned to pen the sequel last year by London's Great Ormond Street Hospital, which owns the copyright to Barrie's original tale.

She was given free rein, with the only stipulation being the return of the Darling family as well as Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and, of course, Peter Pan.

"I clean forgot Barrie's ghost might be reading the computer screen over my shoulder -- forgot to worry whether the necessary people (hospital trustees) would like what I wrote," McCaughrean said.

The hospital's "Peter Pan" copyright expires in 2007. It will split the royalties from the new book with McCaughrean, the BBC said.