Film and television rights to Dean Jobb’s Empire of Deception (HarperCollins/Algonquin Books) have been optioned by Bill Holderman, producer most recently of “A Walk in the Woods,” and Erin Simms for their company Sine Qua Non Productions Inc. Jerry Kalajian at Intellectual Property Group negotiated the deal on behalf of Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists.
Susanne Alexander from Goose Lane has acquired Canadian rights to journalist Lauren McKeon’s F-BOMB, a witty and insightful nonfiction narrative that explores why women are abandoning feminism in unprecedented numbers, why the feminist movement is losing ground, and what we as a society can do about it, for publication in fall 2017. World rights excluding Canada have been bought by BenBella Books. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated both deals.
Douglas & McIntyre managing editor Anna Comfort O’Keeffe has acquired North American rights to LEGION CAFE: A STORY OF CANADA TOLD THROUGH CHINESE RESTAURANTS by Ann Hui, the national food reporter for The Globe and Mail. Hui intersperses her journeys to the country’s Chinese restaurants with the more intimate story of her own family’s immigration to Canada. The title is slated for fall 2018. The deal was arranged by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists in association with Chris Casuccio.
Douglas & McIntyre managing editor Anna Comfort O’Keeffe has acquired Canadian rights to a new title by art-market commentator Don Thompson. THE ORANGE BALLOON DOG‚ due in spring 2017‚ takes a critical look at the high end of the contemporary art market. The deal was arranged by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists. Czech rights have also been sold to Kniha Zlin by Kristen Olsen Literary Agency, on behalf of Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
Tundra Books has acquired world rights to DOG NIGHT AT THE STORY ZOO, a humorous middle grade graphic novel by Audrey (Cow) author Dan Bar-el, with Samantha Swenson editing and publication slated for July 2017. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented Bar-el in the deal. Tundra brought in Vicki Nerino to illustrate.
Rena Ayer at Audible has acquired World English Audio rights to Roz Nay’s psychological suspense OUR LITTLE SECRET in an enthusiastic 5 figure pre-empt. Simon & Schuster will publish in Canada in Summer 2017, Dutch rights have sold to Xander. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
Business Weekly has acquired Taiwanese rights to Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY. Rights have sold previously to China, Germany and Romania. Simon & Schuster will publish in Canada in November 2016. The deal was arranged by Andrew Nurnburg Associates in association with Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Dutch rights to Orange Broadband prize-winning author Karen Connelly’s THE CHANGE ROOM, about a woman with a happy marriage and a great career who begins an affair with a woman she meets at the local swimming pool, to Querido, by Neeltje Smitskamp of Marianne Schombach Agency in association with Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser. Random House will publish in Canada in April 2017.
Mondadori have acquired Italian rights to Don Thompson’s ORANGE BALLOON DOG, about the contemporary art world. The deal was arranged by the Italian Agency in association with Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of John Pearce.
Hungarian rights to Charles Demers THE HORRORS: AN A TO Z OF FUNNY THOUGHTS ON AWFUL THINGS were acquired by Typex. The deal was arranged by Peter Bolza of Katai Bolza in association with Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of John Pearce.
Latvian rights to Mark Abley’s SPOKEN HERE have been acquired by the Latvian Language Agency. The deal was arranged by Andrew Nurnberg Associates Baltic in association with Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
Irving Vs. Irving author Jacques Poitras has sold PIPE DREAM to Penguin Canada publishing director Diane Turbide. Poitras will tell the story of the proposed Energy East pipeline – and the conflict between the epic achievement of engineering and the first great crucible in Canada’s move to a carbon-reduced economy – by tracing its route across the country. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists handled the deal, with the book slated for publication in fall 2018.
Louise Bradford’s debut picture book WADE’S WIGGLY ANTLERS, featuring a moose worried about losing his first antlers, has been acquired by Yvette Ghione at Kids Can Press for publication in spring 2017. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented Bradford in the world rights deal, and Kids Can brought Christine Battuz on to illustrate.
German rights to Alice Kuipers YA novel THE DEATH OF US to Fischer by Liepman Agency in association with Carolyn Forde on behalf of Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
Romanian rights to Heather Tucker’s debut THE CLAY GIRL to Editura Rao Srl by Simona Kessler Agency in association with Carolyn Forde on behalf of Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists.
Chinese simplified rights to Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY to Beijing Green Beans by Andrew Nurnberg Associates in association with Carolyn Forde on behalf of Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists.
Dutch rights to Roz Nay’s debut psychological thriller OUR LITTLE SECRET, have sold in a pre-empt to Xander. Unfolding in a police interrogation room and revealing a love-triangle that goes back a decade, OUR LITTLE SECRET is an intense read that will appeal to readers of The Girl on the Train and In a Dark, Dark Wood. The deal was arranged by by Neeltje Smitskamp at Marianne Schönbach Literary Agency on behalf of Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists. Nita Pronovost at Simon & Schuster Canada will publish in Summer 2017.
Glenn Dixon’s JULIET’S ANSWER has been acquired in China (simpliflied) by W.E. Time through Andrew Nurnberg Associates, in Spain by Espaca Culpa through Sandra Bruna Literary Agency and in Serbia by Laguna though PLIMA Literary Agency, in association with Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Hilary McMahon. Previous territories sold include China (complex) to China Times, Australia to Affirm Press and US to Gallery, Simon & Schuster will publish in Canada in Spring 2017.
Don Thompson’s ORANGE BALLOON DOG has been acquired in the UK and Commonwealth (ex-Canada) by Aurum, the deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of John Pearce. Czech rights have gone to Kniha Zlin through Kristin Olsen Literary Agency in association with Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of John Pearce.
Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY? has been acquired in Germany by Plassen, through Liepman Agency, and in Romania by Editura Niculescu by Simona Kessler Agency, both in association with Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.