Hachette Nabs New Priscilla Presley Memoir
Lauren Marino at Hachette Books has acquired world rights to a memoir by Priscilla Presley (with Headline to publish for Hachette UK). Alan Nevins at Renaissance Literary & Talent brokered the deal. Nevins said Presley—whose previous memoir Elvis and Me was a bestseller—will open up about “life after Elvis; the passing of her daughter, Lisa Marie; Lisa Marie’s marriage to Michael Jackson; and forging her own identity as an actress and businesswoman, as well as offering never-before-shared intimate stories about her romantic life with Elvis.” The book is tentatively set for a fall 2025 publication.
Doubleday to Feature Wang’s Bugs
In a preempt, Edward Kastenmeier at Doubleday has acquired North American rights to conservation biologist Yang Wang’s Little Things That Run the World. Ian Bonaparte at Janklow & Nesbit Associates handled the deal. Doubleday said the book “explores humanity’s braided history with insects, from our neolithic past to the present day, spotlighting the diverse, underrepresented, and often misunderstood people who make their livelihood from catching, cooking, or rearing bugs.” The book is set for an October 2026 publication.
Sheinmel Brings Adult Debut to Bestler
In her first acquisition for Emily Bestler Books, Sarah Grill has bought North American rights to Such Sheltered Lives, the first adult novel by YA author Alyssa Sheinmel (A Danger to Herself and Others). Peter Knapp and Stuti Telidevara at Park & Fine Literary and Media negotiated the deal. The agents said the book is an “upmarket suspense novel” that follows “three self-destructive young celebrities who check themselves into an exclusive rehabilitation facility in the Hamptons but soon suspect that the ultra-private, ever-vigilant staff are protecting the center’s dark secrets more than their own.” The book is set for a summer 2025 release.
MFA Grad Gets ‘Famous’ at Bloomsbury
In a preempt, Bloomsbury’s Jillian Ramirez has acquired North American and open market rights to the debut story collection by Syracuse University MFA graduate Sydney Rende. Madeline Wallace at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates negotiated the deal. Bloomsbury said I Could Be Famous features “10 ambitious women—and one male superstar who has fallen from grace—as they stumble through the sometimes delusional pursuit of adoration.” The book is due out in winter 2026.
Ballantine, Chase Strike ‘Midnight’ Deal
In a preempt, Susanna Porter at Ballantine has acquired North American rights to The Midnight Hour by bestselling British author Eve Chase (Black Rabbit Hall). The two-book deal was brokered by Stacy Testa at Writers House on behalf of Lizzy Kremer at David Higham Associates. Ballantine said the book is “a dual-timeline novel set between London in 1998 and Paris in 2019, in which a woman’s life is upended when the basement of her family’s home is excavated, dredging up the dark secret of her mother’s disappearance.” The book is slated to be published in summer 2025.
Keenan, Wands Put Their ‘Trust’ in Dutton
John Parsley at Dutton has acquired North American rights to Trust Issues by Elizabeth McCul-
lough Keenan and Greg Wands—the authors’ first book to be published under their own names (they previously worked together under the pseudonym E.G. Scott). The deal was negotiated by Christopher Schelling at Selectric Artists, with Lashanda Anakwah to edit. Dutton called the book “a gripping suspense novel where dysfunctional siblings team up to take down their stepfather, who they believe murdered their mother and absconded with their inheritance.” A January 2025 pub date is planned.
