• Canadian publishing house At Bay Press has just purchased the world rights to a new four book series. CITY RISING, FROM THE HOLY MOUNTAIN, by David Rotenberg, is the first novel in The Shanghai Tetralogy. The series follows the epic journey prophesied by the First Emperor almost 2500 years ago on an Ivory Tusk – to bring Shanghai to its present glory. Opium from the West mixes with powerful Chinese families to bring the First Emperor’s dream to vibrant life. Agent Michael Levine from Westwood Creative Artists arranged the deal with At Bay Press, who plans a November 2023 release date for book one. Book two will release in June 2024.

• Canadian publishing house At Bay Press has just purchased the world rights to an essential new title. OUT OF THE SHADOWS, by renowned storytellers and history enthusiasts David Bouchard and Gordon Henderson, explores what is arguably one of Canada’s most complicated and complex historical figures, its first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The book will also put renewed focus on Louis Riel. The book is a sequel to Gordon Henderson’s MAN IN THE SHADOWSbuilt around the assassination of D’Arcy McGee which At Bay Press will also re-release. The book will endeavour to serve as a discussion piece with indigenous (Bouchard) and settler (Henderson) perspectives researched to bring forward a new history for all. Agent Michael Levine from Westwood Creative Artists arranged the deal with At Bay Press, who plans a May 2024 release date for the book.

• Award-winning author of SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, Joanne Levy‘s THE JOURNAL OF THINGS LOST AND FOUND, in which 12 year old Ruthie Sydner navigates her still-fresh feelings around the loss of a miscarried sibling while learning her mom is newly pregnant, to Sarah Howden at Orca Book Publishers, for publication in fall 2025, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists (world).

Foreign:

• Kyo Maclear’s BIRDS ART LIFE renewed to AdMarginem (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

• Kyo Maclear’s UNEARTHINIG to AdMarginem (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

• Michael Ignatieff’s THE ORDINARY VIRTUES renewed to China Times Publishing Company (Taiwan), by Whitney Hsu at ANA  Taiwan, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Michael Levine.

• Leanne Toshiko Simpson’s NEVER BEEN BETTER to April Books (Netherlands), edited by Petra Kruijt, by Stella Nelisen at Marianne Schonbach Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Westwood Creative Artists, one of Canada’s largest literary agencies representing more than 400 writers, is looking for a candidate to fill a full-time hybrid or remote 6-week internship position, beginning February 21^st.

A considerable amount of time during this internship will be spent working with WCA’s international rights director and rights associate preparing our seasonal rights catalogue ahead of the London Book Fair which takes place in April. There will also be some other administrative tasks.

We offer a competitive hourly wage, a lively and congenial team culture, and an excellent opportunity to gain an overview of the publishing industry in Canada and abroad through the lens of a literary agency and the writers we represent.

The ideal candidate will be eager to learn, highly organized, energetic, and have a positive outlook. Strong proofreading and computer skills required; previous office experience and knowledge of the publishing industry an asset; passionate attention to detail and accuracy a must. Please send your cover letter, resume, and references to the attention of Meg Wheeler at meg@wcaltd.com at your earliest convenience, but not later than January 24^th. We appreciate all applications but will only reply to candidates selected for an interview. Westwood Creative Artists is an equal opportunity employer, and values a diverse workforce.

Westwood Creative Artists, one of Canada’s largest literary agencies representing more than 400 writers, is looking for a candidate to fill a full-time hybrid or remote 6-week internship position, beginning September 6^th.

A considerable amount of time during this internship will be spent working with WCA’s international rights director and rights associate preparing our seasonal rights catalogue ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair which takes place in October. There will also be some other administrative tasks including but not limited to market research, data entry, and reading unsolicited submissions.

We offer a competitive hourly wage, a lively and congenial team culture, and an excellent opportunity to gain an overview of the publishing industry in Canada and abroad through the lens of a literary agency and the writers we represent.

The ideal candidate will be eager to learn, highly organized, energetic, and have a positive outlook. Strong proofreading and computer skills required; previous office experience and knowledge of the publishing industry an asset; passionate attention to detail and accuracy a must. Please send your cover letter, resume, and references to the attention of Meg Wheeler at meg@wcaltd.com at your earliest convenience, but not later than August 8^th. We appreciate all applications but will only reply to candidates selected for an interview. Westwood Creative Artists is an equal opportunity employer, and values a diverse workforce.

Westwood Creative Artists, a leading literary and media rights agency, represents more than 400 award-winning writers and creators in the book publishing, film and television, and podcast marketplaces. We have an immediate opening for a detail-oriented, experienced bookkeeper who can work remotely with occasional hours in our downtown Toronto office, and who thrives in an entrepreneurial setting.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Payment processing for our clients, including monitoring incoming funds, communicating with WCA staff as well as publishers and producers to clarify details; cutting cheques and initiating outgoing electronic transfers of funds
• Inputting payment details in our custom publishing software, Bradbury Phillips (thorough training will be provided)
• Payroll processing and monthly source deduction remittances
• Prepare journal entries, account reconciliations and monthly financial statements
• Prepare and file quarterly GST/HST return
• Prepare year-end financial analyses package for filing of corporate tax return by chartered accountant
• Maintain supporting documentation and proper filing system for all financial transactions
• Initiate transition of payment processing and other recordkeeping to online platforms with support of WCA’s management and admin teams

Required Education, Skills and Qualifications:

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in accounting, book publishing or a related field
• Minimum 3 years of experience in bookkeeping
• High proficiency with Sage 50 and Microsoft Office
• Experience processing EFTs and wire payments through online banking platform
• Strong attention to detail with high level of accuracy
• Eager to take on a challenge and establish new systems; a self-starter with a positive attitude
• Proven to work well independently and collaboratively; a problem-solver
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality
• Experience in a small business setting an asset
• An interest in book publishing and/or film and television is not essential but would make the job more rewarding!

Please send a cover letter along with your resume to Hilary McMahon at hilary@wcaltd.com.  Thanks for your interest, and we’ll be in touch if we’d like to set up an interview.  The deadline for applications is Friday, January 21^st, 2022.  Westwood Creative Artists is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.

Job type: permanent, full time

Salary: $40,000 – $50,000, vacation, health and dental benefits

• Jamison Stoltz at Abrams has acquired from Associate Professor of Classics at Dalhousie University Jack Mitchell’s THE ODYSSEY OF STAR WARS, AN EPIC POEM, which begins with the rebel heist from Rogue One and climaxes with Return of the Jedi, recounting the legendary adventures of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in the ancient literary form.  Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists did the world rights deal, with publication slated for September 2021.

• Annick Press’s Claire Caldwell has acquired world rights to South Asia Book Award winner Mahak Jain’s BHARATANATYAM IN BALLET SHOES, to be illustrated by Anu Chouhan, a lively picture book about a girl’s love of dancing and her cultural identity, with echoes of the real-life collaboration between Bharatanatyam icon Rukmini Devi Arundale and ballerina Anna Pavlova. Publication is planned for Spring 2022. Hilary McMahon and Bridgette Kam of Westwood Creative Artists represented the author and Thao Le of Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency represented the illustrator.

Westwood Creative Artists, one of Canada’s largest literary agencies representing more than 400 writers, is looking for a candidate to fill a full-time, in-office or hybrid 6-week internship position, beginning August 23^rd.

A considerable amount of time during this internship will be spent working with WCA’s international rights director and rights associate preparing our seasonal rights catalogue ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair which takes place in October. There will also be some other administrative tasks.

We offer a competitive hourly wage, a lively and congenial team culture, and an excellent opportunity to gain an overview of the publishing industry in Canada and abroad through the lens of a literary agency and the writers we represent.

The ideal candidate will be eager to learn, highly organized, energetic, and have a positive outlook. Strong proofreading and computer skills required; previous office experience and knowledge of the publishing industry an asset; passionate attention to detail and accuracy a must. Please send your cover letter, resume, and references to the attention of Meg Wheeler at meg@wcaltd.com at your earliest convenience, but not later than July 30^th. We appreciate all applications but will only reply to candidates selected for an interview. Westwood Creative Artists is an equal opportunity employer, and values a diverse workforce.

• Canadian poet Lydia Kwa‘s ORACLE BONE and THE WALKING BOY, the ancient storytelling tradition referred to as Chuanqi literally means “to transmit the strange,” and the literary speculative Chuanqi Duology is inspired by and subverts Chinese mythologies, literary traditions, and tropes, to Kim Budnick at Tantor Media in a two-book deal, by Emmy Nordstrom Higdon at Westwood Creative Artists (world English).

• Wade Davis’s INTO THE SILENCE, the definitive, epic true story recounting the beginning of the end of the British Empire and the guilt of the survivors of the first world war, among whom was the British adventurer George Mallory who along with Sandy Irvine went on to risk their lives attempting to climb Mount Everest in 1924, carrying that survivor’s guilt and so much more, to Bublico Productions, by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.

• PEN/Hemingway Award finalist and author of THE LOST GIRLS OF CAMP FOREVERMORE, Kim Fu’s LESSER KNOWN MONSTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, a poignant, erotic, and darkly comic short story collection, to Alana Wilcox and Crystal Sikma at Coach House Books, for publication in winter 2022, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (Canada English). U.S. rights were previously sold to Masie Cochran at Tin House Books.

• World rights to Governor-General’s Literary Award finalist Alison Hughes’s MORE OR LESS have been acquired by Andrea Spooner at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, with publication slated for winter 2024.  The picture book uses variations of just five words to celebrate living more sustainably, simply and generously, reinforcing that by having “less”, something “more” meaningful can be gained.  Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represents Hughes, and Steven Malk at Writers House negotiated for Caldecott Honor recipient Oge More to illustrate.

• Iris Tupholme at HarperCollins Canada has acquired Canadian rights to MINDFUL OF MURDER by Stephen Leacock Medal winner and Edgar-award nominee Susan Juby (The Woefield Poultry Collective). The comedic murder mystery features high-end domestic service, unusual spiritual pursuits, the Death Positive movement, and the best organized investigator you’ve ever met. Publication is planned for spring 2022; Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.

• Esteemed architect Jack Diamond’s memoir CONTEXT AND CONTENT, about his life from growing up in South Africa and his early experiences with anti-Semitism to designing iconic buildings around the globe, to Scott Fraser at Dundurn Press, for publication in Spring 2022, by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.

• Former police officer and current crime reporter for CP24 Steve Ryan’s THE GHOSTS THAT HAUNT ME, about homicide cases he investigated as a detective and how they still affect him, to Scott Fraser at Dundurn Press, for publication in Spring 2023, by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.

Foreign deals:

• Bobbi French’s THE LAST CHANCE OF FRANCES DELANEY to Kinneret (Israel), by Geula Geurts at Deborah Harris Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.

• Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI renewed to Presenca (Portugal), by Jordi Ribolleda, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Westwood Creative Artists has an immediate opening for a full-time position in our busy rights and contracts department.

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated self-starter with strong critical thinking, organization, and problem solving skills; excellent attention to detail; the ability to work well both independently and in a team; and the desire to excel and grow within an entrepreneurial environment. Prior office and publishing experience are assets, as is a publishing degree. The successful candidate will gain experience in all aspects of the agenting business by supporting and participating in the full range of our domestic, international, and multiplatform activities, including proposal evaluation, submission tracking, contracts / royalties / accounting, outreach to publishers and co-agents via catalogues and newsletters, and of course the most important activity of all, author care. Please note that candidates must be available to work both on-site at our Toronto office (near Bloor and St George) and remotely.

WCA looks forward to considering a diverse range of applicants, however only those candidates selected for a virtual interview will be contacted.  Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter asap, and no later than Friday, March 12, 2021, to hilary@wcaltd.com.