Oct 08
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WCA Deal Report for October 8, 2021

By Deals
  • Film and television rights to David A. Robertson’s epic Middle Grade Indigenous fantasy series THE MISEWA SAGA which commences with The Barren Grounds, to ABC Signature, by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists, on behalf of Jackie Kaiser (World).
  • 90th Parallel Productions and Groupe Fair-Play have optioned the film rights to Julian Sher’s THE NORTH STAR: CANADA AND THE CIVIL WAR PLOTS AGAINST LINCOLN, which tells the stories of Canadians swept up in history’s turning point, including the man from Montreal who leads the army’s hunt for Abraham Lincoln’s assassin, the first Black doctor in Canada who joins the Union Army and meets the President in the White House, and the Confederate spies and plotters who use Canada as a base to support the Southern cause. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of John Pearce. 
Oct 01
Love1

WCA Deal Report for October 1, 2021

By Deals
  • Dundurn Press’ President and Publisher Scott Fraser has acquired World English rights to Patricia Westerhof’s THE CANADIAN GUIDE TO CREATIVE WRITING AND PUBLISHING. The text is described as a handbook for Canadian writers at all stages of their careers and will contain creative writing lessons, prompts, and Canadian publishing industry information. Westerhof is an Instructor of Creative Writing at the University of Toronto and the author of a short story collection, a novel, and co-author of creative writing textbook THE WRITER’S CRAFT. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative artists.
  • Michael Holmes at ECW Press has acquired world English rights to GIN, TURPENTINE, PENNYROYAL, RUE: A LOVE STORY by Christine Higdon (THE VERY MARROW OF OUR BONES). Set in 1920s Vancouver, the novel explores forbidden love, choices and vengeance, set in motion after a sister’s betrayal leads to a back-alley abortion. Publication is planned for spring 2023; Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.
  • Dundurn‘s Scott Fraser has acquired World, English rights to Bruce Geddes’ CHASING THE BLACK EAGLE, a novel set during the Harlem Renaissance and in Haile Selassie’s Ethiopia, based on one man’s involuntary pursuit of real-life adventurer Hubert Julian. Publication is expected for Fall 2022. The deal was arranged by Chris Casuccio at Westwood Creative Artists.
  • Imogen West has optioned the film and tv rights to Tomson Highway’s KISS OF THE FUR QUEEN, an intimate, deeply personal book celebrating Highway’s birthplace in northern Manitoba, where it meets Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and what is now Nunavut. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser. 
  • Yann Martel’s THE HIGH MOUNTAINS OF PORTUGAL renewed to Jakkajungsin Publishing Co. (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim of Shinwon Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
  • Timothy Findley’s PILGRIM renewed to Neri Pozza Editore (Italy), by Elisa Beretta at The Italian Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
  • Kathryn Nicolai’s NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS to Bloom Books (Vietnam), by Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Sep 24
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WCA Deal Report for September 24, 2021

By Deals
  • Tara Walker at Tundra Books has acquired on exclusive submission the next two picture books by Linda Bailey (MARY WHO WROTE FRANKENSTEIN). ARTHUR WHO WROTE SHERLOCK is a picture book bio of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to be illustrated by Isabelle Follath and published in fall 2022.  THE GREAT DINOSAUR SLEEPOVER, with Joe Bluhm illustrating for publication in summer 2023, is about how a boy’s birthday party is saved by the unexpected arrival of prehistoric guests, with comic results. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented Bailey on the world rights deal, with Follath represented by Amy Kitcherside at Pickled Ink and Bluhm repped by Ashley Valentine at Pippin Properties.
  • Doug Pepper, Publisher of Signal/McClelland & Stewart, has acquired world rights to John Ibbitson’s THE DUEL: DIEFENBAKER, PEARSON AND THE MAKING OF MODERN CANADA, a life-and-times narrative that tells the story of two men, children of the Victorian era, who led Canada into the atomic age as prime ministers, fighting each other relentlessly but together shaping the Canada we live in today. Publication will be in Fall 2023, by J. The deal was arranged by John Pearce of Westwood Creative Artists.
  • Diana Bentley and John Titley have entered into a shopping agreement for Kate Lines’s CRIME SEEN, the author’s memoir about her career from a highway patrol officer to Quantico-trained criminal profiler and Chief Superintendent of the Ontario Provincial Police. Bentley and Titley are represented by Larissa Giroux of Oscars Abrams Zimel & Associates. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.
  • Portland Opera has licensed the stage rights to WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT, with a libretto by the author Rachel Rose. The opera is composed by Leslie Uyeda, and is a love story between two women – one married to a man, mother to a young child, and the other a stranger, living a life of exile – who meet in an imaginary country where being queer is punishable by death. Rose is represented by Hilary McMahon and the deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.
  • Jennifer Chang and Feodor Chin have entered into a shopping agreement for Jack Wang’s WE TWO ALONE, a masterful collection of stories that dramatizes the Chinese diaspora around the world over the past century. Chang is represented by WME and Redrock Entertainment Development, Chin is represented by Established Artists, and both are represented by entertainment attorney Bob L. Johnson. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
  • Timothy Findley’s PILGRIM to Koridor Yayinlari (Turkey), by Atilla Izgi Turgut at Akcali Copyright Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
  • Jack Hodgins’s BROKEN GROUND to Gyldendal (Denmark), by Monique Oosterhof at MO Literary Services, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce. This deal is for digital rights only.
Sep 17
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WCA Deal Report for September 17, 2021

By Deals
  • Simon & Schuster Canada’s Janie Yoon has acquired Canadian rights in English to Craig Shreve’s AFRICAN SAMURAI, a powerful literary historical novel set in late sixteenth century Africa, India, and Japan, based on the true-life story of Yasuke, Japan’s first foreign-born samurai and the only samurai to be of African descent. Publication is expected for Spring/Summer 2023. The deal was arranged by Chris Casuccio of Westwood Creative Artists. 
  • Tamara Goranson’s THE VINLAND SAGAS series to Mondadori (Italy), by Elisa Beretta at The Italian Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Emmy Nordstrom Higdon.
  • Rohinton Mistry’s FAMILY MATTERS to AST/Neclassics (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
  • Rohinton Mistry’s FAMILY MATTERS to Mahrousa Center for Publishing, Information and Press Services (Arabic), by Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
  • Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI to Fabula (Azerbaijan), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
  • Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI renewed to Inkilap Kitavebi Kitabevi (Turkey), by Atilla Izgi Turgut at Akcali Copyright, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Aug 27
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WCA Deal Report for August 27, 2021

By Deals
  • Iris Tupholme at HarperCollins Canada has acquired three works of non-fiction by acclaimed award-winning author, journalist, and sought-after speaker Tanya Talaga. The first book will focus on residential schools and the essential reckoning, exploring why the discovery of unmarked graves on residential school grounds has finally resonated with Canadians as well as rest of the world. Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists did the world rights deal, with the first publication slated for 2023.
Aug 13
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WCA Deal Report for August 13, 2021

By Deals
  • Writer-in-residence at Sheridan College and author of THE BUS and BUTTERFLY ON THE WIND Adam Pottle‘s VOICE: ON WRITING WITH DEAFNESS, a memoir and craft book that explores how the author’s deafness has influenced everything about his writing, to Kim Budnick at Tantor, by Emmy Nordstrom Higdon at Westwood Creative Artists.
Jul 30
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WCA Deal Report for July 30, 2021

By News
  • 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.
Jul 23
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WCA Deal Report for July 23, 2021

By Deals
  • Iris Tupholme at HarperCollins Canada has acquired Canadian rights to the memoir BITCOIN WIDOW: LOVE, BETRAYAL, AND THE MISSING MILLIONS by Jennifer Robertson and Stephen Kimber.  It explores the fairytale romance Robertson shared with Quadriga founder Gerald Cotton, and the massive investment scandal caused by his unexpected death, that left more than a hundred thousand investors looking for their millions and Jennifer questioning how well she knew her husband.  Publication is planned for spring 2022. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented the authors.
  • Arsenal Pulp Press publisher Brian Lam has acquired World English rights to IN THE KEY OF DALE, Benjamin Lefebvre’s debut YA novel about a queer sixteen-year-old music prodigy who starts writing letters to his late father. The deal was arranged by Chris Casuccio of Westwood Creative Artists for Fall 2022 publication.
Jul 19
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Internship — Fall 2021

By News

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 23rd.

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 30th. 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.

Jul 16
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WCA Deal Report for July 16, 2021

By Deals
  • Michael Ignatieff’s BLOOD AND BELONGING renewal to Shanghai Sanhui Culture & Press Ltd. (China), by Claire Qiao at ANA Beijing, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Michael Levine. (Note: This is a renewal, but United Agents did the original deal.)
  • Eleanor Wachtel’s ORIGINAL MINDS and MORE WRITERS & COMPANY renewed to X-Plex (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
  • Stephen Bown’s THE COMPANY to Social Sciences Academic Press (China excluding Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao), by Claire Qiao at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Beijing, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce and Chris Casuccio.