DEAL OF THE WEEK
Knopf Unveils Newman’s Lost Memoir
Reagan Arthur at Knopf bought world rights at auction to a currently untitled memoir by Paul Newman from Beth Davey at Davey Literary & Media. The actor, who died in 2008, began working on the book in the 1980s but never finished it; transcripts of recordings he made for it were recently discovered in the Connecticut home of Newman’s wife Joanne Woodward. The publisher said the memoir will include “Newman’s thoughts on acting, directing, boyhood, family, fame, Hollywood, Broadway, love, his first marriage, his 50-year marriage to Woodward, drinking, politics, racing, his ultimate ride to stardom, and aging gracefully.” Peter Gethers will edit the book, which is slated for fall 2022.
Hoffman’s ‘Love Myth’ Uplifts Seal
At auction, Seal Press’s Kyle Gipson won world English rights to Damona Hoffman’s The Modern Love Myth. Hoffman, who was represented by Stephanie Kim and Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary & Media, writes the “Dear Damona” column for the Los Angeles Times and also starred in the A&E reality dating series #BlackLove. Seal said the book is “a sociological deep dive that targets and breaks down the outdated relationship ideals—including religion, race, gender, and more—that hinder people’s ability to find love.”
Putnam Takes On an Agent’s Debut
Jennifer Herrera’s debut novel, The Hunter, was preempted in a world rights agreement by Putnam’s Danielle Dietrich. Herrera, a literary agent at the David Black Agency, was represented by Heather Jackson at the Heather Jackson Agency. Putnam said the book follows a former NYPD detective “who returns to uncover the rotten secrets at the heart of her beautiful Midwestern hometown, and along the way must face the truths she has hidden from herself.” The Hunter is set for winter 2023.
Sherman Cooks for Clarkson Potter
Sean Sherman, owner of the Minneapolis restaurant Owamni, sold Turtle Island: The Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America to Clarkson Potter. Francis Lam took world English rights (excluding Canada) to the book at auction from Jonah Straus at Straus Literary. The book features roughly 200 recipes and offers, the publisher said, “a continent-spanning look at the foodways and history of the numerous tribes and first peoples of what is now the United States, Mexico, and Canada.” It also tells the stories of “the cooks, farmers, seed savers, and artisans that have kept these traditions alive.” Writing the book with Sherman is food scholar Elizabeth Hoover and food writer Kristin Donnelly.
Astra Navigates Oliva’s ‘Rivermouth’
Danny Vazquez at Astra House preempted world rights to Rivermouth, the debut by Alejandra Oliva, a translator for asylum seekers. The publisher said the narrative nonfiction book examines “the humanitarian crisis we call the American immigration system.” It “orbits around a physical space in which Oliva has worked and a unifying metaphor: the river as the waterway that separates the United States and Mexico, as well as the river of meaning that translators are responsible for forging.” Oliva was represented by Dana Murphy at the Book Group; Rivermouth is set for spring 2023.
Hanover Prays to Dorfman’s ‘Priestess’
John Glynn at Hanover Square Press preempted world rights to The High Priestess, a memoir by 13 Reasons Why actor and LGBTQ activist Tommy Dorfman. Dorfman was represented by Andy McNicol at AMstudio. The publisher said the book is structured around a tarot card reading and “chronicles Dorfman’s early childhood, her struggles with addiction, her relationships, and her journey to self-acceptance.”
