David Chariandy’s second novel Brother has won the Windham-Campbell Prize in the category of fiction. Congratulations David on this astounding achievement!

What the jury said:

“Offering a vision at once entirely humane and immensely tender, David Chariandy lays bare the ways that gestures and details articulate the revelations of grief as well as the intimacies found within fraught and fraying social spaces.”

Chariandy’s reaction to the news:

“I was floored by the news! And for some time, I didn’t dare believe my fortune. The Windham-Campbell Prize offers a life-changing opportunity to devote time and energy to writing. I am humbled and profoundly grateful to be counted among the recipients.”

Click here for more information about the prize.

Congratulations to author and illustrator Matt James! His illustrated children’s book The Funeral is a 2019 Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor winner.

Deborah Pope, Executive Director of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation, said, “It is a joy and a privilege each year to recognize and support new writers and illustrators who create beautiful and entertaining books that reflect the childhood experiences of our diverse population. The Ezra Jack Keats Award brings greater attention to artists who, like Ezra, seek to inspire all children to achieve their full potential.”

We couldn’t be happier to see David Chariandy’s brilliant novel Brother on the Canada Reads 2019 shortlist! Lisa Ray will be defending Chariandy’s second novel in the debates which will air from March 25-28, 2019.⠀

From CBC Books, “Rooted in Chariandy’s own experience growing up as a person of colour in the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, the novel is a beautiful meditation on discrimination, agency, grief and the power of human relationships.”⠀

The 2018 Cleaver Award finalists have been announced and we are thrilled to see The Funeral from WCA author and illustrator Matt James, and Bloom from author/illustrator duo Kyo Maclear and Julie Morstad are on the list!

The prize is presented by the International Board on Books for Young People, Canadian section, with prize money awarded in trust from the estate of Canadian illustrator Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver. The winner will be announced Feb. 21, 2019.

Bahasa language rights to Najwa Zebian’s NECTAR OF PAIN to Grasindo. The deal was arranged by Maxima Creative Agency with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Hilary McMahon.

Malayalam rights to Barbara Gowdy’s THE WHITE BONE to Saikatham Books. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Russian rights to B. Brett Finlay and Jessica Finlay’s THE WHOLE-BODY MICROBIOME to Exmo. The deal was arranged by Synopsis Literary Agency with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of John Pearce.

Rohinton Mistry’s A FINE BALANCE to Guomai Culture & Media (simplified Chinese, arranged by Andrew Nurnberg Associates Beijing), to Artkonekt Publishing (Macedonian, arranged by PLIMA Literary Agency), and to Saikatham Books (Malayalam) with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Bruce Westwood.

Scholastic have renewed their license for English-language educational simplification rights to Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Wydawnictwo Albatros have renewed their license for Polish rights to Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI.  The deal was arranged by Graal Literary Agency with Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Arabic rights to Alice Kuipers’s LIFE ON THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR to Al Arabi and Malayalam rights to Saikatham Books. The deal was arranged by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Kathryn Lane of Dundurn Press has acquired North American English rights to blogger Nellwyn Lampert’s EVERY BOY I EVER KISSED, a candid memoir that explores how surprisingly difficult it was for the liberated millennial to lose her virginity. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated with deal, with publication slated for fall 2019.