‘Race’ Runs to Tor
Lucinda Roy, who’s published two works of literary fiction (
Lady Moses and
Hotel Alleluia), sold her first work of speculative fiction in a three-book deal.
Freedom Race, according to Roy’s agent
Jennifer Weltz at JVNLA, features “echoes of
The Underground Railroad and
The Handmaid’s Tale” and is set in “an alternate future where slavery has returned and one young woman challenges the boundaries of race and redefines what it means to live free.”
Jen Gunnels at Tor nabbed world English rights in the agreement, with
Freedom Race set for release in 2021. Weltz said the deal is “flexible” but that the title will launch what’s expected to be, at least, a two-book series.
Trump’s Former Press Sec Speaks at SMP
Former White House press secretary
Sarah Huckabee Sanders sold world rights to her memoir to St. Martin’s Press.
George Witte brokered the deal for the currently untitled book with
David Limbaugh, a conservative commentator and author (and brother of conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh); he handled the sale in his capacity as a lawyer. SMP said that in the book, set for fall 2020, Sanders, who is only the third woman to hold the position of White House press secretary, will discuss “subjects including the media, family, faith, and performing an all-consuming and highly visible job while raising her young family.”
Oseman’s Webcomic Headed to Scholastic’s Graphix
At auction, Graphix’s
David Saylor and
Cassandra Pelham Fulton bought North American rights to four books in
Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper series. The series, about two high school boys whose friendship unexpectedly blossoms into romance, originally appeared as a webcomic. After gaining traction, the series was formally published in the U.K. by Hodder Children’s Books. Under this deal, the first two titles are set to be released in 2020.
Susannah Palfrey at Hachette Children’s Group (which is the parent of Hodder Children’s) negotiated the agreement with Saylor and Fulton. (
Claire Wilson at RCW previously sold world rights to the series to Hodder Children’s.)
Children's Deals Roundup
New projects this week include debut author
Graci Kim's middle grade fantasy about a Korean witch family, for Disney’s Rick Riordan Presents imprint, and adult fantasy writer
Robert Repino's debut venture into middle grade, in a two-book deal.
Lit Agent Sells First Picture Book
Literary agent
Stephen Barr sold his debut picture book, at auction, to Chronicle.
Taylor Norman bought world rights, in a two-book deal, to
The Upside Down Hat. The book, to be illustrated by
Gracey Zhang, is set for spring 2022. Chronicle said the book follows a boy who discovers that all of his things are gone save his hat, “which accompanies him on his search for everything else.” Barr was represented by
Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties, while Zhang was represented by
Hannah Mann at Writers House.
Stegner Fellow Sells Debut to LB
Little, Brown’s
Ben George won North American rights to
Stephanie Soileau’s debut novel,
Terre Bonne, at auction. The two-book deal also includes a Louisiana-set short story collection,
Last One out Shut Off the Lights. George described the novel, about the fictional Terrebonne clan, as “an epic, fierce-hearted family saga in the vein of Philipp Meyer’s
The Son.” The collection is set to publish first, in summer 2020. Soileau, who was represented by
Rebecca Gradinger at Fletcher & Company, is a former Stegner fellow and an Iowa Writers Workshop graduate.
Grushin’s ‘Wife’ Goes to Putnam
For Putnam,
Gabriella Mongelli took world rights to
Olga Grushin’s novel
The Charmed Wife. The literary work, which
Warren Frazier at John Hawkins & Associates sold, reimagines the fairy tale “Cinderella.” The novel picks up 13 years after Cinderella has married Prince Charming, at which point Cinderella is contemplating divorce. Putnam said the book is “reminiscent of Madeline Miller’s
Circe” and is “a darkly complex exploration of romantic expectation and the very nature of storytelling.” Grushin earned a place on Granta’s Best Young American Novelists list for her 2006 debut,
The Dream Life of Sukhanov (also published by Putnam).