- The Globe Theatre in Regina, Saskatchewan has licensed the right to stage a live radio play of Thomas King’s A COYOTE SOLSTICE TALE, winner of the American Indian Library Association Youth Literature Awards for Best Picture Book. The performance will be recorded for an audio-broadcast. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
- CineVedas Inc. has optioned the film to M.G. Vassanji’s NO NEW LAND. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Bruce Westwood.
- Award-winning author (THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING) Elyse Friedman’s THE OPPORTUNIST, about three adult siblings who devise a plan to get rid of their wealthy father’s much younger fiancée who they view as a threat to the family fortune, in a pre-emptive two-book deal to Patrick Crean at HarperCollins Canada and Nicole Brebner at MIRA (U.S.) for publication in December 2022, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (World).
- Award-winning artist and educator Diane Borsato’s MUSHROOMING: A MODERN GUIDE, a beautiful, modern guide to more than 100 common and charismatic mushroom species found across the northern hemisphere, proposing mushrooming as a compelling cultural practice that can teach us to see what is often unseen and to experience the world with greater intimacy and intelligence, with illustrations by Kelsey Oseid, to Anna Comfort O’Keeffe at Douglas & McIntyre, for publication in Fall 2022, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists for the author (North American English & French).
- Elizabeth Philips at Thistledown Press has acquired Canadian rights to Giller-prize nominee for THE ISLAND WALKERS John Bemrose’s novel THE RIVER TWICE, exploring the traumatic effect of WWI on the home front, when a returning soldier, stricken with psychic wounds, confides his stories of the front to his sister-in-law, Grace, emotionally isolating his wife. Publication is slated for spring 2022; Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.
- Tara Walker, Lynne Missen, Liz Kribs and Peter Phillips at Tundra Books have jointly acquired six new books by bestselling Indigenous author David A. Robertson. The deal includes Book Five in THE MISEWA SAGA, a middle grade fantasy series (THE BARREN GROUNDS, THE GREAT BEAR) that has just been optioned by ABC Signature; two new picture books; a graphic novel; and the first two books in a brand-new chapter book series, LAUREN GOES EXPLORIN’, about a 10-year-old Indigenous girl whose tight knit family and optimistic, adventurous spirit empower her to solve everyday mysteries and overcome her own obstacles in the process. The deal was arranged by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
- House of Anansi’s Douglas Richmond has acquired World Rights to Scott Thornley’s fifth novel in his MACNEICE MYSTERIES series, in which Detective Superintendent MacNeice and his seasoned team investigate a series of murders without bodies. Publication is expected for Spring 2023. The deal was arranged by Chris Casuccio at Westwood Creative Artists.
- Author of THE LOST ART OF FEEDING KIDS, Jeannie Marshall’s SEEING THINGS IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL, a personal account of finding meaning, a model for how to engage deeply with the past, and a sublime meditation on how art, once invested with the power to save our souls, can enlarge our lives if only we learn how to look, to Dan Wells at Biblioasis Press, for publication in Fall 2022, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (World).
- Lynn Henry at Knopf Canada has acquired English Canadian rights to FRANCIE’S GOT A GUN by Carrie Snyder. Reminiscent of the early novels of Miriam Toews, the suspenseful and poignant tale from the author of GIRL RUNNER is about an imaginative girl navigating social breakdown and chaotic family life in a close-knit small town. Publication is scheduled for summer 2022; Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists inked the deal.
- Thomas King’s INDIANS ON VACATION to Dublinense (Brazil), by JP Riff at Riff Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
- Josef Skvorecky’s THE MENORAH to Braumüller Verlag (Germany), by Hannah Nuspliger-Fosh at Liepman, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists.
- Tomson Highway’s PERMANENT ASTONISHMENT to Prise de parole (North American French), with acquiring editor Stéphane Cormier, by Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.
- Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY renewed to Beijing Green Beans Book Co., Ltd (China), by Claire Qiao at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
- Marc Lewis’s MEMOIRS OF AN ADDICTED BRAIN to Next Door (Spain), by Sandra Bruna at Sandra Bruna Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Michael Levine.
- A.J. Vrana’s THE CHAOS CYCLE duology (THE HOLLOWED GODS and THE ECHOED REALM) to Eksmo (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Emmy Nordstrom Higdon.
- Amy Gash at Algonquin Books has acquired world rights to JEWELS FOR THE TAKING by Dean Jobb (THE CASE OF THE MURDEROUS DR. CREAM), a rollicking historical true-crime story of one of the world’s most successful jewel thieves, who charmed the elite of Jazz Age New York and outfoxed police and private detectives as he brazenly swiped ten million dollars in gems from posh Long Island estates. Publication is slated for 2024; Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.
- Marie Hoy-Kenny‘s THE GIRLS FROM HUSH CABIN, a debut young adult thriller about four estranged former best friends who reunite after the death of their beloved camp counselor, only to realize that there is much more to her death than meets the eye; they decide to investigate, no matter where it takes them or what secrets from years earlier are revealed, to Brandan Deneen at Blackstone Publishing, in a pre-empt, by Jack Heller at Assemble Media on behalf of Emmy Nordstrom Higdon at Westwood Creative Artists (world).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.