Pantheon Brings in Ramos’s ‘Defectors’
In an exclusive submission, Concepción de León at Pantheon Books has acquired North American rights to Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right by Emmy-winning journalist Paola Ramos. Ramos was represented in the deal by Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon Literary. Pantheon said the book is a “deeply reported exploration of the origins and rise of conservative sentiment among the growing Latino population in the United States,” drawn from the author’s years of “crisscrossing the country interviewing evangelical pastors, vigilante border patrollers, hair stylists, truck drivers, media personalities and more.” Defectors will be published early this fall.
‘The Good Indian’ Goes to Algonquin
In a preempt, Madeline Jones at Algonquin Books has taken North American rights to The Good Indian, the debut memoir by Elaine Yellow Horse, an Oglala Lakota lawyer and professor. Gail Ross and Dara Kaye at William Morris Endeavor negotiated the deal. Algonquin said the book explores Yellow Horse’s childhood on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and her work as a tribal prosecutor, while also offering “a searing indictment of the U.S. justice system and a powerful new vision for restorative justice and Indigenous healing.” The Good Indian is set for an early 2026 publication.
Reines’s ‘Rose’ Grows at Graywolf
Graywolf director and publisher Carmen Giménez has acquired world rights to The Rose, a poetry collection by Ariana Reines, a Kingsley Tufts Prize and Obie Award winner. The deal was negotiated by Melissa Flashman at Janklow & Nesbit. Graywolf said the collection seeks to “unsettle” the notion that one must “define the directions of one’s erotic feelings or police the boundaries of one’s outward-facing identity.” The Rose will publish in winter 2025.
Hyde Inks Four with Lake Union
In an exclusive submission, Catherine Ryan Hyde has signed a four-book world rights deal with Alicia Clancy at Lake Union Publishing. The first book in the deal, a novel titled Michael with No Apologies, will be published in May 2025. Lake Union said it tells the story of “a young man who was badly injured in a fireworks accident and creates a student film to deal with his relationship to the scars he carries—both outside and inside.” The deal was brokered by Laura Rennert at Andrea Brown Literary Agency.
French Takes Mystery Series to Minotaur
In an exclusive submission, Edgar Award finalist Gillian French has sold world English rights to the first two books in her debut adult mystery series to Kelley Ragland at Minotaur. Alice Tasman at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency brokered the deal. Tasman said the series will appeal to fans of Tana French, Sue Grafton, Tess Gerristen, and Laura Lippman. The first book in the series, Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell, “follows a latent fingerprint examiner whose life spirals out of control when a man claiming responsibility for her sister’s murder 16 years earlier surfaces and begins stalking her family.” Publication is scheduled for May 2025.
Harper Perennial Gets Jeffs’s ‘Love’
In a preempt, Ezra Kupor at Harper Perennial has acquired North American rights to This Love by Lotte Jeffs, a former Elle UK editor-in-chief and cohost of the Some Families podcast. Kiele Raymond at Thompson Literary Agency brokered the deal on behalf of Abigail Bergstrom at Bergstrom Studio. Raymond said the novel is about “a life-changing queer friendship” and follows Ari and Mae, “who meet at university and make a pact to have a child together someday, chronicling the ups and downs of their relationship over and following the newfound friendships, relationships, and heartbreaks that occur along the way.” The book is set to be published in early 2025.
Morrow Takes in Erlick’s ‘Poppy Fields’
Nikki Erlick, bestselling author of The Measure, has sold North American rights to The Poppy Fields to Liz Stein at William Morrow. Cindy Uh at CAA brokered the deal. Uh said the book is a work of speculative fiction that “draws upon a question that we’ve probably all asked ourselves at some point in our lives, during a time of heartbreak, loss, or great struggle: What if I could fast-forward through this pain and come out on the other side feeling adjusted and able to handle the situation?” The Poppy Fields is scheduled for summer 2025.
Grand Central Gets ‘20% Smarter’
In a preempt, Grand Central executive editor Karyn Marcus has acquired North American rights to 20% Smarter: How Neurodivergents Are Reshaping the World by David Flink, CEO of Eye to Eye, a mentorship program for students with learning disabilities. The deal was handled by Ethan Bassoff at WME. Grand Central said the book is written in the vein of Adam Grant’s Give and Take and Steve Silberman’s Neurotribes, and uses “a mix of anecdotes and research to identify six key strengths common to neurodivergent thinking, demonstrating how these strengths can help organizations supercharge their growth.” Grand Central plans to publish it in early 2026.
Avid Reader Takes Doctor’s Advice
In a preempt, Avid Reader editorial director Caroline Sutton has acquired North American rights to If Our Patients Only Knew by Adam Rosenbluth. Avid Reader said Rosenbluth, an internist and cardiologist in New York City who has been in practice for 25 years and is a clinical instructor at Mount Sinai’s School of Medicine, consults with some the top specialists in their fields to offer valuable advice that can help “empower readers with the keys to unlock good health and long life.” The deal was brokered by Kristin van Ogtrop and Richard Pine at InkWell Management. If Our Patients Only Knew is set to be published in 2026.
‘Happy Wife’ Heads to Bantam
After an auction, Natalie Hallak at Bantam has acquired North American rights to Happy Wife by Meredith Lavender, showrunner of the popular Max series The Flight Attendant, and corporate communications expert Kendall Shores. The two-book deal was negotiated by Alexandra Machinist at CAA. Bantam said the novel follows “the second wife of a prominent lawyer whose husband suspiciously goes missing one day,” hitting on themes of “marriage, wealth, and what might drive someone to murder.” The book is scheduled for a summer 2025 publication.
Garcia Sells Autism Treatise to LB Spark
Talia Krohn at Little, Brown Spark has acquired world rights to Manly While Stimming, by MSNBC columnist and Independent senior Washington correspondent Eric Garcia. The deal was brokered by Heather Jackson at her eponymous agency. Garcia’s first book, We’re Not Broken, sparked a national conversation about supporting people on the autism spectrum. In Manly While Stimming, Jackson said Garcia will explore how “societal expectations of manhood clash with the autistic existence,” drawing on his “extensive reporting as well as his own journey.” The book is tentatively set for spring 2026.
Pegasus Buys Pérez’s Adult Debut
Literary agent Kristina Pérez, author of the YA trilogy Sweet Black Waves, has sold U.S. rights to her adult debut, The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins, to Jessica Case at Pegasus Books. Pérez was represented by Joelle Hobeika at Alloy Entertainment. Pegasus said the book, set among the “privileged and monied Hong Kong elite,” is a “twisted, dark novel with a deliciously devious and complex female friendship at its core.” A September publication is planned.
