Rapp’s ‘Wolf’ Howls at LB
In a world rights agreement, Ben George at Little, Brown bought Adam Rapp’s Wolf at the Table. Rapp, a novelist who’s also written for the stage and screen, is currently the showrunner on the Showtime series American Rust and was a Pulitzer finalist for his 2006 play Red Light Winter. The novel, George said, was pitched as The Corrections meets We Need to Talk About Kevin, and is “a harrowing multigenerational saga about an Upstate New York family harboring a serial killer in their midst.” David Halpern at the Robbins Office brokered the deal for Rapp. Wolf is slated for spring 2024.
Dorman Goes into Mara’s ‘Attic’
Irish author Andrea Mara sold Someone in the Attic to Jeramie Orton at Pamela Dorman Books in a two-book agreement. Orton preempted North American rights to the novel—Mara’s U.S. debut—from Catherine Wood at Penguin Random House UK, on behalf of Diana Beaumont at Marjacq Scripts. The publisher said it follows a woman who comes to believe there’s an intruder in her house after watching a viral video of a person climbing out of an attic. Then, “when an old friend is murdered, she fears there’s something even more dangerous at play.” Someone in the Attic is set for a summer 2024 release.
Minian Casts Her ‘Shadow’ Over Viking
Viking’s Ibrahim Ahmad won North American rights at auction to Ana Raquel Minian’s In the Shadow of Liberty from Amelia Atlas at Creative Artists Agency. The book, Viking said, explores immigration detention by “braiding together the vivid stories of four migrants from the late 1800s to the present to explore how ‘black sites’ of rightlessness have evolved within America’s borders and what their existence has meant for our body politic.” Minian’s previous book, Undocumented Lives, examined Mexican immigration to the U.S. In the Shadow of Liberty is slated for April 2024.
Celadon Gets ‘Careless’ with Wade
Blue Bloods showrunner and Working Girl screenwriter Kevin Wade sold his debut novel, Johnny Careless, to Deb Futter at Celadon Books. Futter preempted North American rights from Esther Newberg at Creative Artists Agency. The thriller, scheduled for 2025,
follows “a cop whose best friend is murdered.”
Basketball Wife Dribbles to Gallery
Shaunie Henderson, creator and producer of the VH1/BET series
Basketball Wives, sold Undefeated to Gallery Books. Jan Miller and Alexandria Kominsky at Dupree Miller and Associates brokered the world rights agreement. Pamela Cannon will edit the memoir, which is subtitled Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms. Gallery said that in the book, Henderson, the ex-wife of Shaquille O’Neal and mother of five, shares how she “found love and partnership” and gives advice on “raising strong, smart, grounded Black children in today’s world.” Undefeated is set for summer 2024.
Rucci Preempts Climate Journo’s Debut
Climate journalist Emma Pattee sold her debut novel, Animal Sounds, to Marysue Rucci for her eponymous imprint at Simon & Schuster. Rucci preempted North American rights from Rayhane Sanders at Massie & McQuilkin. The publisher said Animal Sounds is an eco-thriller with literary leanings set after the long-anticipated and much-feared Cascadia earthquake (a megathrust quake like the one that occurred in the Pacific Northwest in 1700). It follows “a pregnant woman trying to navigate the devastation of her Portland hometown while making excruciating choices toward survival.” Animal Sounds is scheduled for spring 2025.
