Neal Porter at Holiday House/Porter has bought TADPOLES by Boston Globe-Horn Book and Governor General’s Award-winning author-illustrator Matt James, about a father and son’s walk to an ephemeral pond teeming with tadpoles, and the sense of wonder to be found in the natural world. Publication is slated for spring/summer 2023; Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Arts brokered the deal for world rights.
Michael Holmes at ECW Press has acquired Heather Tucker’s novel CRACKED POTS on exclusive submission from Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists. The voice-driven novel features the beloved character of Ari Appleton and her imaginary seahorse Jasper from Tucker’s debut novel THE CLAY GIRL, as she joins the desperate search for a missing girl, struggles to protect her step-brother, and emerges from the ashes of a violent childhood to put the pieces of her broken life together. ECW acquired World English rights, and will publish in fall 2021.
First Nations broadcaster, activist and author of THE REASON YOU WALK Wab Kinew’s WALKING IN TWO WORLDS, the author’s debut young adult novel about an Indigenous teenage girl caught between two worlds both real and virtual, to Lynne Missen at Penguin Teen Canada, for publication in September 2021, in a two-book deal, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (World).
Author-illustrator of WHEN EMILY WAS SMALL Lauren Soloy’s A FIELD GUIDE TO GNOMES and DEAR PETAL: EMILY DICKINSON AND HER FLOWER FRIENDS, to Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books, for publication in fall 2022 and summer 2023, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (World).
Grand Central’s Haley Weaver has acquired World rights to Max Wallace’s AFTER THE MIRACLE: THE LONELY CRUSADES OF HELEN KELLER, in which the author explodes long-standing myths and taps newly uncovered material to focus on the powerful, underexplored story of Helen Keller’s adult life as a fervent advocate for racial justice, socialism, and disability rights. Publication is expected for spring 2023. The deal was arranged by Chris Casuccio and John Pearce of Westwood Creative Artists.
Tamar Mays at HarperCollins has acquired world rights to WHEN YOU WERE NEW by Jennifer Harris, a love letter from a parent to a child celebrating all the surprising and important things the child has learned and discovered. Lenny Wen will illustrate; publication is planned for winter 2023. Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Arts represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.
Ken Whyte at Sutherland House has acquired North American English rights to Bow Tie Partners Chairman Charley Moss’ MAGIC IN THE DARK, about the Moss family’s journey from its arrival as Jewish immigrants in the US early in the 20th century to becoming one of the most influential families in film exhibition, with the start and growth of the motion picture industry as it’s backdrop. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in Fall 2021.
Thomas King’s bestselling novel INDIANS ON VACATION has been optioned for an opera by composer Ian Cusson and librettist Royce Vavrek. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine for Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
From one of Canada’s leading writers and public intellectuals, Michael Ignatieff’s timely meditation ON CONSOLATION: FINDING SOLACE IN DARK TIMES about how you can find solace in a secular age without the support of organized religion to Anne Collins at Random House Canada (Canadian English rights), Sara Bershtel at Henry Holt (US English rights), and Ravi Mirchandani at Picador (English language rights excluding North America), in addition to foreign sales in Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Taiwan, organized by Meg Wheeler, scheduled for Fall 2021 publication. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.
Thomas King’s BORDERS, a middle grade adaptation of the author’s short story of the same name, with themes of identity, nationality, justice, and belonging from an Indigenous perspective, illustrated by Natasha Donovan, to Susan Rich at Little, Brown Children’s, for publication in fall 2021, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists. Rights to Suzanne Sutherland at Harper Canada.
World rights to Ryerson Journalism professor and author of BROWN, Kamal Al-Solaylee’s RETURN: WHY WE GO BACK TO WHERE WE CAME FROM, exploring the longing to return home, including stories from Basque, Irish, Taiwanese, Jamaican and Ghanian immigrants, and his own conflicted return to his Middle Eastern homelands, to Jim Gifford at HarperCollins Canada by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists for publication in Fall 2021.
Community activist, film director, world traveller Cheuk Kwan draws out a global narrative of the Chinese Diaspora by linking together personal stories of chefs, entrepreneurs, laborers and dreamers who populate Chinese kitchens world-wide in HAVE YOU EATEN YET, sold to Douglas & McIntyre by Chris Casuccio at Westwood Creative Artists for publication in February 2022. North America.
Katie Scott at Kids Can Press has acquired World rights to PUFFIN VS. PENGUIN, a graphic novel written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Kevin Sylvester, about friendship and collaboration. Kevin Sylvester is represented by Michael Levine of Westwood Creative Artists, and Helaine Becker by Susan Schulman at Susan Schulman Literary Agency.
Sutherland House has acquired Lawrence Stevenson’s CYPRUS: HOSTAGE TO PARALYSIS, an extended essay on the geopolitical realities and future of the country from the perspective of a peacekeeper. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists for World rights for publication in Spring 2022.
Optimum Publishing International has acquired Sam Cooper’s WILLFUL BLINDNESS, an in-depth look into Chinese organized crime infiltration into Canada over the past 25 years. The deal was arranged for English North American rights, English rights in Australia/New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, Japan, and complex Chinese language rights in Taiwan. Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists represents the author. This is scheduled for publication in Spring 2022.
Flanker Press has acquired Leo Furey’s THE GOOD THIEF, about a Newfoundland teenager who is forced to hide from the law when his father passes away and inherits the family auto-repair shop, a cover for a counterfeit business modeled after Robin Hood, taking from the rich and giving to the poor. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists for Canadian rights for publication in Spring 2021.
Author of THE COLONY OF UNREQUITED DREAMS Wayne Johnston’s THE MYSTERY OF RIGHT AND WRONG, moving from Newfoundland to Cape Town, Amsterdam, and Bergen-Belsen to chart the unravelling of one mythomaniacal, increasingly dysfunctional family, and crack open secret atrocities, to Anne Collins at Knopf Canada, for publication in fall 2021, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (Canada English).
Award-winning children’s author Caroline Adderson’s SUNNY DAYS INSIDE, a funny and compassionate celebration of the ingenuity and resilience of children, following the interconnected lives of a group of kids whose families are sheltering in place in their apartment building during the pandemic, to Karen Li at Groundwood Books, for publication in August 2021, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (World).
THE SCOOTER TWINS, by Dorothy Ellen Palmer, to Karen Li at Groundwood Books, by Emmy Nordstrom Higdon at Westwood Creative Artists.
Tantor Audio senior acquisitions editor Kim Budnick has acquired audio rights to Canadian author Adam Pottle’s novella, THE BUS. Based on true events, Pottle painstakingly researched and unflinchingly rendered this fictionalized account of a shocking moment in our collective past. THE BUS is a powerful #OwnVoices literary historical novella that offers a rare glimpse into the experiences of the mentally ill in Nazi Germany. The deal was arranged by Emmy Nordstrom Higdon at Westwood Creative Artists.
Antonio Michael Downing’s SAGA BOY: MY LIFE OF BLACKNESS AND BECOMING, a memoir of a young Trinidadian boy who lands in a remote North American town and navigates his beguiling new world as an orphan, immigrant and minority by using music and performance to dramatically transform himself, to Daniel Slager at Milkweed Editions by Chris Casuccio and John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists for US publication in Fall 2021.
Frances Itani’s THE COMPANY WE KEEP, to Uhinenud (Estonia), by Tatjana Zoldnere at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Baltic, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Tessa McWatt’s SHAME ON ME: AN ANATOMY OF RACE AND BELONGING, to Mémoire d’encrier (World French), by Celia Long at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Rohinton Mistry’s A FINE BALANCE (audio), to Aschehoug (Norway), by Monique Oosterhof at Mo Literary Services, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
Marc Raboy’s MARCONI: THE MAN WHO NETWORKED THE WORLD, renewed to Hunan Science and Technology Press (China), by Vicky Wen at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Beijing, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.
Anna Comfort O’Keefe at Douglas and McIntyre has acquired Rachel Rose’s fiction debut THE OCTOPUS HAS THREE HEARTS, a linked collection of stories exploring universal elements of the human condition, featuring characters on the fringes of society who all have better relationships with animals than humans. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for North American English rights, for publication in spring 2021.
Harbour Publishing has acquired Sam Wiebe’s HELL AND GONE, the latest novel in the acclaimed series, featuring Vancouver PIs Dave Wakeland and Jeff Chen in a deadly case involving gangland rivalries and a private army for hire. The deal was arranged by Chris Casuccio at Westwood Creative Artists for North American publication in fall 2021. Audio rights were sold to Blackstone Publishing.
Rohinton Mistry’s FAMILY MATTERS, to Artkonekt Publishing (Macedonia), by Vuk Perisic at Plima Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
Damhnait Monaghan’s NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE, to Insel / Suhrkamp Verlag (Germany), by Hanna Vielberg at Liepman Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.
Josef Skvorecky’s THE COWARDS, ALL THE BRIGHT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, and REPUBLIC OF WHORES, to Miraggi Edizioni (Italy), by Elisa Berretta at The Italian Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists.
Bestselling author of THE CURE FOR DEATH BY LIGHTNING Gail Anderson-Dargatz’s novel THE ALMOST WIFE, about a woman whose almost perfect life is threatened by a dark secret and a haunted past, to Iris Tupholme at HarperCollins Canada, in a deal by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in May 2021 (World). Rights: Lisa Rundle at HarperCollins Canada.
Allison Cohen at Running Press has bought world rights to Governor-General’s Award finalist Alison Hughes’s OVER THE TOP, a middle grade novel about a young girl adapting to a new (pink!) home and school while making friends and facing off with the school’s mean girls. Publication is scheduled for Summer 2021. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists brokered the deal for the author.
Jamal Saeed’s THE ROAD FROM DAMASCUS, which tells the story of the author’s twelve years in Syria’s most notorious military prisons, but also his poetic life and eventual escape during the country’s dramatic changes; chronicling the life of a modern Syria and its descent from a country of potential to the pawn of cynical and corrupt powers to Michael Holmes at ECW, for publication in Spring 2022 by Chris Casuccio at Westwood Creative Artists for the author (world English).
Susan Swinwood at Graydon House has acquired US rights to Damhnait Monaghan’s NEW GIRL IN LITTLE COVE from Lisa Rundle at HarperCollins Canada, for publication in May 2021. Janice Zawerbny previously acquired North American rights to the debut novel from Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists. The debut romantic comedy is about a teacher from the big city who takes a job at a Catholic school in a small Newfoundland fishing village, much to the consternation of the locals whom she must try to win over, pitched as ‘Derry Girls’ meets ‘Come From Away.’
Pamela Murray at Knopf Canada has acquired North American (English) rights to Julian Sher’s THE WRATH TO COME: CANADA AND THE CIVIL WAR PLOTS AGAINST LINCOLN, a multi-character narrative that weaves the extraordinary stories of eight men and women, ranging from Confederate conspirators in Montreal to a Canadian woman who disguised herself as a male Union nurse on the battlefields, into one big narrative that climaxes in Lincoln’s assassination and its aftermath. The deal was arranged by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in Fall 2022.