WCA Deal Report for February 2, 2017

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.