Anna Comfort O’Keeffe at Douglas & McIntyre has acquired North American English-language rights to three novels (two adult and one YA) by Charles Demers, author of Property Values. The two adult novels are mysteries featuring a psychiatrist, Acadian-born Dr Annick Boudreau, as the detective. Each mystery in the series will spotlight a different mental-health issue. PRIMARY OBSESSIONS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS will be published in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The YA book, entitled THE GODSON, features a young boy who is fighting back against bullying and prejudice at a US military base where his father, a former mobster who has enrolled in Witness Protection, is being held. Deals for all three books were arranged by John Pearce of Westwood Creative Artists.
Harriet Low at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has bought Calgary writer Alexandra Latos‘s debut YA novel UNDER SHIFTING STARS, about twins struggling for belonging: Audrey, who feels responsible for her brother’s tragic death and wants to leave her alternative classroom for public school, and Clare, who is hiding the turmoil she’s feeling about her sexuality and gender. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists brokered the deal for world rights.
Mondadori have renewed their license for Spanish rights to Rohinton Mistry’s A FINE BALANCE. The deal was arranged by Sandra Bruna & Jordi Ribolleda of Sandra Bruna Agency on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
Romanian rights to Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY 3 to Editura Niculescu. The deal was arranged by Andreea Focsaneanu of Simona Kessler Agency on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
French rights to Darrel McLeod’s MAMASKATCH to VLB Editeur/Groupe VilleMarie Litterature, at auction. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists.
Bhavna Chauhan at Appetite (an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada) has acquired World English Rights to Tara Henley‘s LEAN OUT: A MEDITATION ON THE MADNESS OF MODERN LIFE. Part memoir, part travelogue and part journalistic investigation, Lean Out explores the stresses of the 24/7 work world – and the radical communities around the globe that are resisting it.The deal was arranged by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists in association with Chris Casuccio and will be published in Spring 2020.
Senior editor Laurie Grassi of Simon & Schuster Canada has acquired world English rights to film and tv producer (Story of a Girl) Liz Levine’s NOBODY EVER TALKS ABOUT ANYTHING BUT THE END: A MEMOIR OF LOSS; a haunting, heartbreaking, yet often humorous account of life and loss, family and friendship, this portrait of grief and mental illness reveals what it means to try to keep moving forward, in spite of everything. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented Levine in the deal, for publication in spring 2020.
Tiffany Stone (Tree Song) inked a two book picture book deal with Kate Harrison at Dial, for the pun-filled KNOT CANNOT, in which a piece of rope envies the freedom and abilities of his friend Snake, until danger threatens and he learns the value in his own form, and a follow-up in the same vein, Wood Could. Publication of the first title is planned for spring 2020; Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal at auction for world rights.
German rights to Karma Brown’s RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE to C.Bertelsmann. The deal was arranged by Hannah Fosh at Liepman Agency on behalf of Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
Polish audio rights to Sandra Gulland’s four novels; THE MANY LIVES AND SECRET SORROWS OF JOSEPHINE B, TALES OF PASSION TALES OF WOE, THE LAST GREAT DANCE ON EARTH and MISTRESS OF THE SUN have been acquired by Storytel. The deal was arranged by Graal Literary Agency with Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Irish language rights to Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI to Coiscéim foilsitheoirí. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde on behalf of Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
Robert McCullough at Appetite (an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada) has acquired World Rights to Christine Tizzard’s EVERY LAST BITE: YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ZERO FOOD WASTE. This cookbook features 100 extraordinary recipes anyone can cook and everyday solutions everybody can participate in to help battle the global challenge of food waste, and it’s full of tips that will save precious food dollars, with the bonus of eating delicious whole foods and helping the environment. The deal was arranged by Bruce Westwood at Westwood Creative Artists in association with Chris Casuccio and will be published in Spring 2021.
Triton has acquired Czech language rights to B. Brett Finlay and Jessica Finlay’s THE WHOLE BODY MICROBIOME: How to Harness Microbes – Inside and Out – for Lifelong Health. The deal was arranged by the Kristin Olsen Literary Agency and Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of John Pearce.
Tabahon Publishing has acquired Macedonian rights to Annabel Lyon’s 2011 novel THE GOLDEN MEAN. The deal was arranged by PLIMA Literary Agency and Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Destino/Planeta have renewed their license for world Spanish rights to Yann Martel’s 2002 novel LIFE OF PI. The deal was arranged by Sandra Bruna Agency and Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Lara Hinchberger of Penguin Canada has acquired North American English rights to HIDEAWAY by Nicole Lundrigan, author of The Substitute and Glass Boys. Told from the perspectives of two young siblings, one who runs away and one who stays with an increasingly erratic mother who is desperate to save her marriage, this suspenseful novel asks what happens when home is the most dangerous place you can be. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal, with publication slated for summer 2019.
Vietnamese rights to Medcan Chair and CEO Shaun Francis’, EAT, MOVE, THINK: The Path to a Healthier, Stronger, Happier You have been acquired by Huy Huang. The deal was arranged by Santo Manurung at Maxima Creative Agency and Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of Michael A. Levine.
World French rights to Kim Fu’s acclaimed debut FOR TODAY I AM A BOY about an transgender only son who is expected to fulfil his father’s dreams of masculinity but knows in his heart that he is a girl, to Heliotrope. The deal was arranged by Deborah Druba of Anna Jarota Agency and Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Estonian rights to the third volume of Jay Ingram’s bestselling pop science series, SCIENCE OF WHY to Rahva Raamat. The deal was arranged by Andrew Nurnberg Baltic and Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Governor-General’s award-winning author Susin Nielsen (No Fixed Address) has sold a new picture book, PRINCESS PUFFYBOTTOM… AND DARRYL, about a pampered cat who is not amused when her “subjects” allow an unwanted intruder into her “kingdom,” to Tara Walker at Tundra Books/Penguin Random Canada, in an exclusive submission for world rights. Olivia Chin Mueller will illustrate; publication is scheduled for spring 2019. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for Nielsen, and Nicole Tugeau at Tugeau 2, Inc. represented Mueller.
Brad Wilson, Editorial Director of HarperCollins Canada has acquired World rights to internationally bestselling novelist Karma Brown’s first work of non-fiction. In the vein of The Happiness Project, GET UP EARLY, CHANGE YOUR LIFE is about uncovering the “magic” hours each day that allow you to accomplish a passion project you never imagined you’d have time for. Publication is set for Winter 2021. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists.