Bloomsbury Spark Debuts With ‘Mistletoe’
Bloomsbury Children’s new digital imprint, Bloomsbury Spark, has announced its first print title, Lyla Payne’s Mistletoe and Mr. Right. The book, the publisher explained, is a “bind up” of two of the bestselling author’s new adult holiday e-novellas, Mistletoe and Mr. Right and Sleigh Bells and Second Chances. Mistletoe was initially released as a standalone e-novella, but its popularity spurred Payne to pen the companion title, Sleigh Bells. Bloomsbury Spark’s print edition, set for October, will combine both titles in a new standalone. Meredith Rich at Bloomsbury Spark took world rights in the deal from Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.
Pegasus Nabs Backlist Korean Bestseller
South Korean novelist Kyung-Sook Shin, author of the 2011 bestseller Please Look After Mom (Knopf), sold world English rights to her novel The Girl Who Wrote Loneliness to Jessica Case at Pegasus Books. The book, which has never been released in the U.S., was originally published in South Korea in 1995. In Loneliness, set in the 1970s, a teenage girl from the countryside heads to Seoul to work in a factory while she tries to finish her education and achieve her dream of becoming a writer. Pegasus noted that the novel is considered one of the most important works of fiction published in South Korea during the 1990s, calling the book “stark and lyrical” as it “takes on the extreme exploitation, oppression, and urbanization that helped catapult Korea’s economy out of the ashes of the war.” Shin was represented in the deal by her American agent, Barbara J. Zitwer, who has an eponymous shingle; Loneliness is scheduled for a September release.
Glatt Brings ‘Nakeds’ to Regan Arts
For Judith Regan’s new Phaidon imprint, Regan Arts, Ron Hogan acquired world rights to Lisa Glatt’s new novel, The Nakeds. Andrew Blauner at Blauner Books Literary Agency represented Glatt in the deal. The novel, set in 1970s California, centers on the impact a hit-and-run accident has on the driver and victim. The family drama is slated for June. Glatt’s previous two books, the bestseller A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That and the story collection The Apple’s Bruise, were both published by Simon & Schuster. Film rights to The Nakeds have been optioned by producer Steven Shainberg (Secretary), who is planning to direct the movie adaptation.
'Simpsons’ Cartoonist Gets Friendly at Running Press
Liz Climo, a character artist for the Simpsons, sold a comics collection called Lobster Is the Best Medicine to Jennifer Kasius at Running Press. The book, which is subtitled A Collection of Comics About Friendship, is the second work based on Climo’s popular Tumblr-based webcomic, Hi, I’m Liz. Lobster is set for 2015. Climo also has a separate deal with Andrews McMeel Publishing that will bring 16 greeting cards and two 2016 calendars, featuring art from Hi, I’m Liz, to select retail stores this year. Kathleen Ortiz at New Leaf Literary represented Climo.
Sauer Strikes Double at Katherine Tegen
Picture book author Tammi Sauer closed a two-book, world rights, deal with Jill Davis at Harper’s Katherine Tegen Books imprint. I Love Cake and Making a Friend, will both be illustrated by Angie Rozelaar. Sauer was represented by Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary, and Rozelaar was represented by Eunice McMullen at Eunice McMullen Literary. In I Love Cake, which is set for summer 2016, a rabbit, a porcupine, and a moose gather to celebrate the rabbit’s birthday. Making a Friend follows an otter desperate to, as the title indicates, make a friend; it’s set for winter 2017.
