Managing Editor Anna Comfort-O’Keefe at D&M has acquired North American English rights to Bill Gaston’s seventh short-story collection THE MARINER’S GUIDE TO SELF-SABOTAGE. Though an accomplished novelist—The World, Sointula, The Good Body, The Cameraman—it’s his short fiction for which he gains the most critical acclaim. His previous collection, Juliet Was A Surprise, earned a Governor General’s Award nomination, as did the collection previous to that, Gargoyles. The one prior to that, Mount Appetite, was shortlisted for the Giller Prize. Publication is planned for Fall 2017. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists.
Taryn Boyd has acquired World rights to Julie Roorda’s A THOUSAND CONSOLATIONS for Brindle & Glass. The story of Paula, a maker of wish-laden candles grappling with the grief of loss, and her relationship with a charming and witty new immigrant from Mexico, Hector, whose past may not be exactly as he’s portrayed it. This is Roorda’s first adult novel (she’s published 3 volumes of poetry and a YA novel previously). Publication is set for Fall 2017. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde at Westwood Creative Artists.
St. Martin’s Press Senior Editor Daniela Rapp has acquired US rights to Roz Nay’s debut psychological thriller OUR LITTLE SECRET, for publication in early 2018. Simon & Schuster Canada VP and Editorial Director Nita Pronovost and Assistant Editor Sarah St. Pierre will publish in Canada in June 2017. Dutch rights were acquired by Xander and audio rights by Audible. The deal was arranged by Carolyn Forde of Westwood Creative Artists.
At Westwood Creative Artists we are pleased to congratulate three of our talented authors on being shortlisted for the 2016 Governor General Award. Kamal Al-Solaylee’s Brown, an examination of the many social, political, economic and personal implications of being a brown-skinned person in the world now, has been nominated in the non-fiction category. Also nominated for non-fiction is Marc Raboy’s Marconi, a biographical account of the father of wireless communication. Nominated in the category of Poetry is Rachel Rose’s Marry & Burn, a searing collection of poems on loss, love and addition.
The Canada Council for the Arts, administers and funds the Governor General Awards, which promote Canadian literature and invites people of all ages and background to read great books. Celebrating it’s 80th year, the GG Awards have expanding to include seven categories, in both French and English.
Wonderful news for Ian Brown, whose memoir Sixty was shortlisted for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction. Author of the multiple award-winning book The Boy in the Moon, Brown documents and examines what sixty means psychically, intellectually, and psychologically.
Finalists were selected by a three-member jury composed of author and journalist Carolyn Abraham, journalism professor and author Stephen Kimber, and nonfiction writer and folklorist Emily Urquhart. In total, 95 titles were submitted by 50 publishers for consideration for the 2016 prize.
The Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize for Nonfiction is awarded for literary excellence in the category of nonfiction. Finalist works will, in the opinion of the jury, demonstrate a distinctive voice, as well as a persuasive and compelling command of tone, narrative, style, and technique. This award succeeds the Writers’ Trust Nonfiction Prize, which was established in 1997.
We are thrilled to see two exceptional authors on the Ottawa Book Awards shortlist, bestselling author Roy MacGregor in the category of Non-Fiction and Giller Prize winner Elizabeth Hay in the category of Fiction. MacGregor’s Canoe Country, published by Vintage Canada, chronicles the relationship between a country and its canoes. And from Elizabeth Hay His Whole Life, published by Emblem Editions, tells a captivating coming-of-age story set in mid 1990s Quebec.
For over 30 years, the Ottawa Book Awards / Le Prix du livre d’Ottawa have paid tribute to Ottawa’s outstanding writers by shining the spotlight on the top English and French books published in the previous year.
Westwood Creative Artists is pleased to congratulate Yann Martel, winner of the 2016 Cheryl and Henry Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence for his body of work. Martel is the author of Life of Pi, the global bestseller and winner of the Man Booker. His most recent work, The High Mountains of Portugal, a New York Times bestseller, has sold in over 25 territories.
The Cheryl and Henry Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence recognizes Saskatchewan writers who have written a substantial body of literary work and had a significant impact on writing in Saskatchewan. The prize consists of an award of $10,000 donated by Cheryl and Henry Kloppenburg and a framed print of a work of art by Saskatchewan artist Dorothy Knowles.
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.