WCA Deal Report for September 11, 2020

By Deals

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.

WCA Deal Report for August 21, 2020

By Deals

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.

WCA Deal Report for July 31, 2020

By Deals

Winner of the 2020 AFMC–Gold Foundation Humanism award Dr. Jillian Horton’s brave and comic memoir WE ARE ALL PERFECTLY FINE, about a community of world-class doctors and surgeons suffering from burnout who come together at a mindfulness retreat in upstate New York, to Iris Tupholme at HarperCollins Canada, in an exclusive submission, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (Canada English), scheduled for publication in Spring 2021.

Charles DemersPRIMARY OBSESSIONS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, to Legend Press (U.K.), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Thomas King’s A MATTER OF MALICE, to Piper (Germany), by Hanna Vielberg at Liepman Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Bruce Kirkby’s BLUE SKY KINGDOM, to Grafe und Unzer (Germany), by Hanna Vielberg at Liepman Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce & Chris Casuccio.

James Maskalyk’s LIFE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, to AST Publishers (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.

Richard Wagamese’s STARLIGHT (mass market paperback rights), to Editions Zoe (France), by Marjorie Burbaud at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Scott Sellers at Penguin Random House Canada has acquired World rights to a new book by acclaimed musician and author Alan Doyle, a collection of comedic stories that celebrate the unique humour of Newfoundland and demonstrate how it has been a survival strategy for the people of the province. The book will be edited by Tim Rostron and Ward Hawkes and published by Doubleday Canada in late fall 2020. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.

Nick Garrison at Penguin Canada has acquired North American (English) rights to the host of CBC’s Quirks and Quarks Bob McDonald’s BUILDING A GREEN FUTURE, a survey of what a clean green future could actually look like: the vehicles of the future, energy sources and lifestyles that can realistically enable society to achieve a sustainable way of life without crippling the economy. The deal was arranged by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in Fall 2022

KING MOUSE illustrator Dena Seiferling’s author-illustrator debut, BUMBLEBEE, a picture book about a baby bee who is taught to deliver secret messages to flowers, to Tara Walker at Tundra, in an exclusive submission, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in spring 2022 (World).

A collaboration between Eric Fan, co-creator of THE BARNABUS PROJECT, OCEANS MEETS SKY, and THE NIGHT GARDENER, and Dena Seiferling, illustrator of KING MOUSE, entitled NIGHT LUNCH, a picture book about a Victorian-inspired evening food cart and its animal owner and patrons, to Tara Walker at Tundra, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2022 (World). Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the writer and Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists represented the illustrator.

WCA Deal Report for July 24, 2020

By Deals

American-Indian Youth Literature Award Winner Tasha Spillett’s BEAUTIFUL ME, BEAUTIFUL YOU, a gently affirming story about a child who begins to notice the physical differences between her features and her mother’s, to Karen Boersma at Owlkids Books, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in spring 2022 (World).

Novelist, essayist and former research scientist Jaspreet Singh’s memoir, exploring the emotional geographies of language, silence, migration, family, and trauma, to Simon Dardick at Véhicule Press, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in fall 2021 (Canada English).

Award-winning Globe and Mail health reporter and columnist André Picard’s Time To Care: A Prescription for Improving the Lives of Canada’s Elders, to Anne Collins at Random House Canada, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in spring 2021 (Canada English).

WCA Deal Report for June 26, 2020

By Deals

Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired Susin Nielsen’s (Princess Puffybottom…and Darryl) picture book Apartment Cat, celebrating feline and human friendship in the humorous story of two lonely Manhattan cats who spy each other from their apartment windows and then secretly explore the city together, until one gets locked out and must find a way home. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights.  Vivien Mineker, represented by Lemonade Illustration Agency, will illustrate, for publication in summer 2022.

Lynne Missen at Puffin Canada has acquired Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour winner Susan Juby’s (The Fashion Committee) middle grade novel Me 3, from the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy who slowly learns that the reason he must rebuild his life in a new town is that his dad was accused in a #MeToo reckoning, forcing him to reconcile his idealized view of his father with some disturbing truths. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights, with publication slotted for Spring 2022.

Jared Bland and Jenny Bradshaw at McClelland & Stewart have commissioned Lauren McKeon (No More Nice Girls) to write a book tentatively titled Women of the Pandemic, providing a narrative record – through a broad spectrum of voices and experiences – of the defining role Canadian women played in the COVID-19 crisis, celebrating resilience and leadership but also acknowledging those forgotten and failed, for publication in spring 2021. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights.

WCA Deal Report for June 12, 2020

By Deals

Talia Benamy at Philomel Books has acquired, at auction, world rights to Montreal poet Gillian Sze‘s picture books MY LOVE FOR YOU IS ALWAYS, about the enduring love that a mother has for her child, told over the course of cooking a traditional Chinese meal, and YOU ARE MY FAVORITE COLOR, in which a parent encourages a child to be proud of and comfortable in their skin, whatever shade it might be. Scheduled for fall 2021 and summer 2022 respectively, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS ALWAYS will be illustrated by Michelle Lee, and YOU ARE MY FAVORITE COLOR will be illustrated by Nina Mata. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented Gillian Sze; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented Michelle Lee; and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented Nina Mata.

Douglas & McIntyre has acquired English language rights to Gary J. Smith’s CANADA’S HOCKEY DIPLOMAT: The Untold Story of the 1972 Summit Series, the compelling story of a young Canadian diplomat who finds himself at the centre of the legendary international hockey series. HighBridge has acquired English language audio rights. Chris Casuccio of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal.

WCA Deal Report for May 22, 2020

By Deals

Janice Zawerbny at HarperCollins Canada pre-empted Damhnait Monaghan’s debut novel New Girl in Little Cove, a light-hearted romantic comedy, set in 1985, about a teacher from a big city who takes a job at a Catholic school in a small Newfoundland fishing village, pitched as Derry Girls meets ‘Come From Away.’ Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for North American English rights, with publication scheduled for spring 2021.

Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY, VOL. 4, to Editura Niculescu (Romania), by Andreea Focsaneanu at Simona Kessler Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Annabel Lyon’s CONSENT, to Atlantic Books (U.K.), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Yann Martel’s SELF and THE FACTS BEHIND THE HELSINKI ROCCAMATIOS, renewed to JakkaJungsin (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

John Ralston Saul’s THE UNCONSCIOUS CIVILIZATION (e-book), to Shanghai Sanhui Culture and Press (China), by Claire Cai at Big Apple China; and VOLTAIRE’S BASTARDS to Artkonekt Publishing (Macedonia), by Vuk Perisic at Plima Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Michael Levine.

Josef Skvorecky’s THE BASS SAXOPHONE (radio), to Radio Literatura (Poland), by Tomasz Berezinski at Graal Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists.

WCA Deal Report for May 8, 2020

By Deals

Robert Hough‘s THE MARRIAGE OF ROSE CAMILLERI, the story of 19 year old Rosie who leaves her rustic village on a tiny Maltese island to seek her fortune in Toronto, to Douglas and McIntyre, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (North American English).

Ken Whyte at Sutherland House has acquired Say Please, Thank You, and Stand in Line, the debut memoir from Dany Assaf, co-written by Don Gillmor, in which the author explores his experiences growing up Muslim in Alberta, and how his family is one of many that make up an integral part of both Canada’s past and future. Especially after 9/11, Assaf has worked in his communities and through his profession as a lawyer specializing in economic policy, to safeguard not only Canada in the face of global unrest, but the place of Muslim Canadians in the country’s culture. Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.

WCA Deal Report for April 17, 2020

By Deals

Susan Juby’s ALICE, I THINK, to Polyandria (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.

Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI, renewed to Inkilap Kitabevi (Turkey), by Atilla Izgi Turgut at Akcali Copyright Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Sara O’Leary’s THE GHOST IN THE HOUSE, to Alpress (Czech Republic), by Tereza Krobotova at Kristin Olson Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

WCA Deal Report for March 27, 2020

By Deals

Darrell Bricker & John Ibbitson’s EMPTY PLANET, to Business Today Publisher (Taiwan), by Whitney Hsu at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Taiwan, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Denise Chong’s THE CONCUBINE’S CHILDREN, to Saga (Denmark), by Monique Oosterhof at MO Literary Services, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Roy MacGregor’s NORTHERN LIGHT, to University of Ottawa Press (World French), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.

Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI (illustrated edition) and BEATRICE AND VIRGIL, renewed to JakkaJungsin (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books has acquired, at auction, THE FAMILY TREE, the debut picture book from novelist, playwright and actor Sean Dixon, in which a common school assignment prompts a girl to show that the ways to display the members of a family are as unique and special as the families themselves, inspired by his own daughter’s experience. Lily Snowden-Fine will illustrate. Publication is slated for spring 2022. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author and the illustrator represented herself in the world rights deal.

Author of the memoir JULIET’S ANSWER Glenn Dixon’s BOOTLEG STARDUST, a coming-of-age caper set in the rock and roll world of the 1970s, about a down-and-out guitar player whose big break doesn’t quite go as planned, to Sarah St. Pierre at Simon & Schuster Canada, for publication in spring 2021, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists.

Diane Turbide at Penguin Canada has acquired THE YEAR OF DYING DANGEROUSLY, a book by Dr. Jean Marmoreo, co-written by Johanna Schneller. A renowned family physician, marathon runner, and author of The New Middle Ages: Women in Midlife, Dr. Marmoreo elaborates how she has changed her practice from that of family medicine and saving lives, to helping people die with dignity on their own terms. Johanna Schneller is a respected and prolific journalist for The Globe and Mail. Dr. Marmoreo is represented by Michael Levine of Westwood Creative Artists, and Schneller by Amy Moore-Benson of Meridian Artists.