Berkley Buys Two Fixer-Upper Mysteries
Christine Hogrebe of the Jane Rotrosen Agency sold world English rights for two books in Kate Carlisle’s Fixer-Upper Mystery series to Michelle Vega, a senior editor at Berkley. The series, which began in 2014 with A High-End Finish, centers on Shannon Hammer, a contractor specializing in the restoration of Victorian homes, who gets wrapped up in various criminal cases in the coastal California town where she lives. The publisher plans to publish the books as mass market originals in fall 2017 and fall 2018.
Tor Takes Debut Fantasy Trilogy by Doore
Diana Pho, an editor at Tor, acquired world rights for K.A. Doore’s debut fantasy trilogy, Assassins of Ghadid, in a deal brokered by Kurestin Armada of P.S. Literary. According to Armada, the trilogy centers on a desert city “where control over water means control over both life and magic itself.” Pho added that Doore’s work draws on “the cultures of sub-Saharan Africa and ancient Egypt” as well as queer romance. The publisher expects to begin publishing the books in winter 2019.
Pushcart Prize Winner’s Novel to Soho
Mark Doten of Soho Press acquired world English rights to The Long Life, a novel by Pushcart Prize–winner Brandon Hobson, in a deal negotiated by Caroline Eisenmann of ICM. According to the publisher, the novel tells the story of a “sensitive but troubled 15-year-old Native American boy placed in foster care, dealing both with his own traumatic upbringing and his growing interest in his elusive, rebellious foster-sister Rosemary.” The book will be published in spring 2018.
Running Press Wins Portable-Recipe Cookbook
Sharon Bowers of Miller Bowers Griffin sold world rights to Ali Rosen’s cookbook Bring It to Kristen Wiewora of Running Press. According to Rosen, who is the founder of the Web cooking series Potluck Video and a food correspondent for Fox News, the book offers “recipes for portable, crowd-pleasing dishes for potlucks, picnics, and casual meals with friends.” It’s set to be published in spring 2018.
Imagine Takes Leonard Bernstein–Focused Memoir
Eric Myers of Dystel, Goderich & Bourret sold world rights to Going Crazy Working for Leonard Bernstein, a memoir by Charlie Harmon, to Don Weise of Imagine, an imprint of Charlesbridge. According to Myers, the book “gives an up-close view of what it was like to spend four years as personal assistant to one of the most brilliant, charismatic, and maddening cultural titans of the 20th century.” It’s set to be published in spring 2018.
Atlantis-Inspired Series Goes to Pyr
Rene Sears of Pyr acquired world English rights to debut author K.D. Edwards’s The Tarot Accounts, the first book in an Atlantis-inspired fantasy series, as part of a two-book deal brokered by Sara Megibow of KT Literary. According to Megibow, the series centers on “the remaining heir to an Atlantean throne and his best friend who, in this first adventure, are tricked into hunting for a missing scion.” She added that the series was originally pitched as “a gay Green Arrow set in a Westworld-esque world.” The first book is set to be published sometime in 2017.
Gregory’s ‘Defining Moments’ to Amistad
Regina Brooks of Serendipity Literary Agency sold North American rights to Dick Gregory’s The Most Defining Moments in Black History According to Dick Gregory to Tracy Sherrod of Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins. According to Brooks, the book highlights “100 key events from the complicated history of black America, as told through the acerbic wit, humor, and paranoia of one of the foremost black comedians.” The book is slated to be published in fall 2017.
