WCA Deal Report for April 23, 2021

  • Josef Skvorecky’s THE ENGINEER OF HUMAN SOULS, renewed to Fundacja Instytut Reportazu (Poland), by Tomasz Berezinski at Graal Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
  • Rohinton Mistry’s SUCH A LONG JOURNEY, to AST/Neclassics (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
  • Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI, to Dar Kalemat (Arabic), by Meg Wheeler at Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
  • Film and television rights to Tomson Highway’s PERMANENT ASTONISHMENT (Doubleday Canada), a joyful celebration of the author’s birthplace—the border between Manitoba and what is now Nunavut – with a sharp analysis of how the sly humour of Cree culture and the shape-shifting qualities of the language itself enabled the Cree people to survive conquest, to White Pine Pictures. The deal was negotiated by Michael Levine on behalf of Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists. 
  • Sam Cooper’s WILFUL BLINDNESS, an in-depth look into Chinese organized crime infiltration into Canada over the past 25 years, to Collective Pictures Inc., by Michael Levine of Westwood Creative Artists.
  • Jim Gifford at HarperCollins Canada has acquired world rights in a pre-empt to Andrew Stobo Sniderman and Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii)‘s VALLEY OF THE BIRDTAIL, about the 140-year relationship between two neighbouring communities and what it tells us about racism and reconciliation. The deal was arranged by Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists.
  • BC poet Jordan Scott has signed a new two-book, world rights deal with Neal Porter at Holiday House/NealPorter Books.  WORMS FOR BABA’S GARDEN , illustrated by Greenaway Medalist Sydney Smith (represented by Emily van Beek at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management) is the second picture book collaboration by Scott and Smith after the acclaimed I TALK LIKE A RIVER, and follows a child’s loving observations of his grandmother and the thriving garden beside her home. Publication is planned for spring 2023.  ANGELA’S GLACIER will be illustrated by Diana Sudyka and explores the way a child draws strength and tranquility from an ancient icefield.  Publication is planned for fall 2023; Andrea Morrison at Writers House represented the illustrator. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented Scott in the deal.