WCA Deal Report for May 9, 2025
- Biblioasis’s Dan Wells has acquired world English rights to Don Gillmor’s CHERRY BEACH. The novel follows two police detectives who are investigating the brutal murder of two girls, and their search for the killer takes them through a corrupt police force, a maze of criminals, expensive lawyers, graffiti artists, and suspect politicians, and finally into the heart of the city’s real estate world, all while a restless city is waiting to explode. Publication is expected for March 2026. The deal was arranged by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
- Kids Can Press’s Katie Scott has acquired world rights to Kate Jenks Landry’s ALL THE BASEMENTS ON BLACKBERRY STREET, to be illustrated by Marie Lafrance. The picture book is described as a celebratory story of the subterranean, in which a new family moves on to the unusual Blackberry Street, only to discover that their basement is not all that it seems. Publication is expected for spring 2027. Bridgette Kam at Westwood Creative Artists represented Jenks Landry.
- Karen Li at Groundwood Books has acquired AH MA’S HOME by Gillian Sze (I DREW A HEART) illustrated by Leah Hong, about a grandmother who shares with her granddaughter memories of village life in China, against the backdrop of the changing season and animals preparing for the winter. Publication is slated for fall 2026. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator in the deal for world rights.
