Andrews McMeel Picks Up Collaborative Poetry Book
Andrews McMeel’s Patty Rice acquired world rights for Typewriter Rodeo, a collaborative multimedia work by four poets, in a deal negotiated by Ammi-Joan Paquette of Erin Murphy Literary Agency. According to Paquette, the book, which is authored by Jodi Egerton, David Fruchter, Kari Anne Holt, and Sean Petrie, is a “journey in photos and poems following the group as they compose spontaneous poetry on manual typewriters all across the country, and spotlighting stories of those they meet along their way.” The book is set to be published in spring 2018.
Kensington Signs Domestic Thriller by Souza
In a deal brokered by Evan Marshall of the Evan Marshall Literary Agency, John Scognamiglio, editor-in-chief at Kensington, bought world and audio rights, in a preempt, for Bring Me Closer by Joseph Souza. According to the publisher, the novel operates in the vein of Shari Lapena’s The Couple Next Door, telling the story of a suburban woman, Leah, whose obsession with her next-door neighbor drives her to kleptomania, and her husband, Clay, whose “connection to a missing college girl is closer than he’s letting on.” Souza, who once worked as an intelligence analyst in the Drug Enforcement Agency, has received accolades for his short crime fiction, including an honorable mention for the Al Blanchard Award in 2010.
Porinchak Takes True Crime Title to Simon Pulse
Fiona Simpson of Simon & Schuster acquired world rights for Eve Porinchak’s One Cut, a nonfiction book aimed at readers 14 and up, in a deal that Porinchak, an agent with the Jill Corcoran Literary Agency, brokered herself. According to Porinchak, the book tells the story of how, “after a backyard fistfight ends in an accidental death, four teenage friends are tried for murder, convicted, and sent to prison for life.” Porinchak adds that the book is one of two inaugural titles in a new line of nonfiction crime books for young adults from Simon Pulse called Simon True. The book is set to be published in May 2017.
Berkley Nabs Two Books by Debut Novelist
Cindy Hwang, editorial director at Berkley, acquired world English rights for The Wedding Date, a debut novel by Jasmine Guillory, in a two-book deal arranged by Holly Root of Waxman Leavell Literary. According to the publisher, the book is an “interracial romantic comedy” that “follows a lawyer and a doctor trapped together in an elevator who then become accidental wedding dates.” Berkley plans to publish the book in spring 2018. A sequel, The Proposal, will follow in summer 2018.
Simon & Schuster Buys Brain Blogger’s Book on Personality
Amar Deol of Simon & Schuster acquired world rights (excluding the U.K.) for Personology by Christian Jarrett, in a deal negotiated by Nathaniel Jacks of Inkwell Management. According to Jacks, the book argues against “the misunderstanding that personality is static and shows instead how malleable personality can be.” Jarrett has previously written on brain science for New York magazine, Wired, and Psychology Today and currently edits Research Digest, a blog published by the British Psychological Society. His previous titles include 30-Second Psychology (Icon, 2011). Simon & Schuster plans to publish Personology sometime in 2019.
