American-Indian Youth Literature Award Winner Tasha Spillett’s BEAUTIFUL ME, BEAUTIFUL YOU, a gently affirming story about a child who begins to notice the physical differences between her features and her mother’s, to Karen Boersma at Owlkids Books, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in spring 2022 (World).

Novelist, essayist and former research scientist Jaspreet Singh’s memoir, exploring the emotional geographies of language, silence, migration, family, and trauma, to Simon Dardick at Véhicule Press, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in fall 2021 (Canada English).

Award-winning Globe and Mail health reporter and columnist André Picard’s Time To Care: A Prescription for Improving the Lives of Canada’s Elders, to Anne Collins at Random House Canada, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists, for publication in spring 2021 (Canada English).

Reka Simonsen at Atheneum has acquired Susin Nielsen’s (Princess Puffybottom…and Darryl) picture book Apartment Cat, celebrating feline and human friendship in the humorous story of two lonely Manhattan cats who spy each other from their apartment windows and then secretly explore the city together, until one gets locked out and must find a way home. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights.  Vivien Mineker, represented by Lemonade Illustration Agency, will illustrate, for publication in summer 2022.

Lynne Missen at Puffin Canada has acquired Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour winner Susan Juby’s (The Fashion Committee) middle grade novel Me 3, from the perspective of an eleven-year-old boy who slowly learns that the reason he must rebuild his life in a new town is that his dad was accused in a #MeToo reckoning, forcing him to reconcile his idealized view of his father with some disturbing truths. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights, with publication slotted for Spring 2022.

Jared Bland and Jenny Bradshaw at McClelland & Stewart have commissioned Lauren McKeon (No More Nice Girls) to write a book tentatively titled Women of the Pandemic, providing a narrative record – through a broad spectrum of voices and experiences – of the defining role Canadian women played in the COVID-19 crisis, celebrating resilience and leadership but also acknowledging those forgotten and failed, for publication in spring 2021. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for world rights.

Talia Benamy at Philomel Books has acquired, at auction, world rights to Montreal poet Gillian Sze‘s picture books MY LOVE FOR YOU IS ALWAYS, about the enduring love that a mother has for her child, told over the course of cooking a traditional Chinese meal, and YOU ARE MY FAVORITE COLOR, in which a parent encourages a child to be proud of and comfortable in their skin, whatever shade it might be. Scheduled for fall 2021 and summer 2022 respectively, MY LOVE FOR YOU IS ALWAYS will be illustrated by Michelle Lee, and YOU ARE MY FAVORITE COLOR will be illustrated by Nina Mata. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented Gillian Sze; Rosemary Stimola at Stimola Literary Studio represented Michelle Lee; and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented Nina Mata.

Douglas & McIntyre has acquired English language rights to Gary J. Smith’s CANADA’S HOCKEY DIPLOMAT: The Untold Story of the 1972 Summit Series, the compelling story of a young Canadian diplomat who finds himself at the centre of the legendary international hockey series. HighBridge has acquired English language audio rights. Chris Casuccio of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal.

Janice Zawerbny at HarperCollins Canada pre-empted Damhnait Monaghan’s debut novel New Girl in Little Cove, a light-hearted romantic comedy, set in 1985, about a teacher from a big city who takes a job at a Catholic school in a small Newfoundland fishing village, pitched as Derry Girls meets ‘Come From Away.’ Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for North American English rights, with publication scheduled for spring 2021.

Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY, VOL. 4, to Editura Niculescu (Romania), by Andreea Focsaneanu at Simona Kessler Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Annabel Lyon’s CONSENT, to Atlantic Books (U.K.), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Yann Martel’s SELF and THE FACTS BEHIND THE HELSINKI ROCCAMATIOS, renewed to JakkaJungsin (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

John Ralston Saul’s THE UNCONSCIOUS CIVILIZATION (e-book), to Shanghai Sanhui Culture and Press (China), by Claire Cai at Big Apple China; and VOLTAIRE’S BASTARDS to Artkonekt Publishing (Macedonia), by Vuk Perisic at Plima Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Michael Levine.

Josef Skvorecky’s THE BASS SAXOPHONE (radio), to Radio Literatura (Poland), by Tomasz Berezinski at Graal Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists.

Robert Hough‘s THE MARRIAGE OF ROSE CAMILLERI, the story of 19 year old Rosie who leaves her rustic village on a tiny Maltese island to seek her fortune in Toronto, to Douglas and McIntyre, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (North American English).

Ken Whyte at Sutherland House has acquired Say Please, Thank You, and Stand in Line, the debut memoir from Dany Assaf, co-written by Don Gillmor, in which the author explores his experiences growing up Muslim in Alberta, and how his family is one of many that make up an integral part of both Canada’s past and future. Especially after 9/11, Assaf has worked in his communities and through his profession as a lawyer specializing in economic policy, to safeguard not only Canada in the face of global unrest, but the place of Muslim Canadians in the country’s culture. Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.

Susan Juby’s ALICE, I THINK, to Polyandria (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.

Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI, renewed to Inkilap Kitabevi (Turkey), by Atilla Izgi Turgut at Akcali Copyright Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Sara O’Leary’s THE GHOST IN THE HOUSE, to Alpress (Czech Republic), by Tereza Krobotova at Kristin Olson Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Darrell Bricker & John Ibbitson’s EMPTY PLANET, to Business Today Publisher (Taiwan), by Whitney Hsu at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Taiwan, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Denise Chong’s THE CONCUBINE’S CHILDREN, to Saga (Denmark), by Monique Oosterhof at MO Literary Services, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Roy MacGregor’s NORTHERN LIGHT, to University of Ottawa Press (World French), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.

Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI (illustrated edition) and BEATRICE AND VIRGIL, renewed to JakkaJungsin (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books has acquired, at auction, THE FAMILY TREE, the debut picture book from novelist, playwright and actor Sean Dixon, in which a common school assignment prompts a girl to show that the ways to display the members of a family are as unique and special as the families themselves, inspired by his own daughter’s experience. Lily Snowden-Fine will illustrate. Publication is slated for spring 2022. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author and the illustrator represented herself in the world rights deal.

Author of the memoir JULIET’S ANSWER Glenn Dixon’s BOOTLEG STARDUST, a coming-of-age caper set in the rock and roll world of the 1970s, about a down-and-out guitar player whose big break doesn’t quite go as planned, to Sarah St. Pierre at Simon & Schuster Canada, for publication in spring 2021, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists.

Diane Turbide at Penguin Canada has acquired THE YEAR OF DYING DANGEROUSLY, a book by Dr. Jean Marmoreo, co-written by Johanna Schneller. A renowned family physician, marathon runner, and author of The New Middle Ages: Women in Midlife, Dr. Marmoreo elaborates how she has changed her practice from that of family medicine and saving lives, to helping people die with dignity on their own terms. Johanna Schneller is a respected and prolific journalist for The Globe and Mail. Dr. Marmoreo is represented by Michael Levine of Westwood Creative Artists, and Schneller by Amy Moore-Benson of Meridian Artists.

Author of CRUSHING IT and SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE Joanne Levy’s TREE OF LIFE, exploring loss and belonging through the unique friendship of a 12 year-old, who feels most at home in her parents’ funeral home (and is bullied accordingly,) and a mute boy, who comes into their lives when his parents are killed, to Tanya Trafford at Orca Books, for publication in fall 2021, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists (world).

Rohinton Mistry’s SUCH A LONG JOURNEY, to Artkonekt (Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of), by Vuk Perisic at Plima Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.

Sarah Quigley’s DIVORCE DIARIES, to Pan Press (China), by Cindy Zhang at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Bob McDonald’s AN EARTHLING’S GUIDE TO OUTER SPACE, to Beijing ERC Media (China), by Cindy Zhang at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Bill Cosgrave’s LOVE HER MADLY, to AST (Russian Federation), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.