Devney Perry Signs with Red Tower
Liz Pelletier at Red Tower has signed world rights to Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry, the bestselling author of more than 40 romance novels. The deal was negotiated by Georgana Grinstead at the Seymour Agency. Red Tower described the book as The Witcher meets “Cinderella,” calling it “a swoon-worthy, spicy romantic fantasy” in which “a princess is chosen to fulfill the terms of an ancient treaty and finds herself traveling with an infamous monster slayer, the Guardian. If she can unlock the mysteries of his powers, he might be the kingdom’s last hope to defeat the monsters plaguing their realm.” Shield of Sparrows is set for a May 2025 release.
Bloomsbury Lands Great British Baker
In an exclusive submission, Harriet LeFavour at Bloomsbury U.S. and Rowan Yapp at Bloomsbury U.K. have landed world rights to Celebrate: Joyful Baking All Year Round from bestselling author and Great British Baking Show host Paul Hollywood. Bloomsbury said the book “is a collection of the 100 best recipes for every holiday and occasion.” Hollywood is represented by Anna Bruce at Yellow Poppy Media. Celebrate will be released in fall 2025.
St. Martin’s Inks U.K. Publisher
Keith Kahla at St. Martin’s Press has taken North American rights to The Bookbinder’s Secret by A.D. Bell, the pseudonym of an unnamed Oxford, U.K., publishing professional. The deal was brokered by Helen Edwards at Helen Edwards Rights on behalf of David Headley at DHH Literary Agency. The publisher said the novel, set in early-20th-century England, follows “a talented young bookbinder, who finds a written confession hidden beneath the binding of a damaged book, which leads her on a hunt for the writer and the truth of their story—a story of forbidden love, a lost fortune, and murder.” The Bookbinder’s Secret is set for a winter 2026 publication.
Atria Races to Sign ‘Redefining Fast’
In a preempt, Yaniv Soha at Atria Books has acquired world rights to Redefining Fast by Sean Brosnan, with Chris Lear (Running with the Buffaloes) and former L.A. Times staff writer Andrew Greif. Atria said the book tells the story of Newbury Park (Calif.) High School’s cross-country team, which Brosnan, who was brought on as coach in 2016, transformed into perennial national champions. Daniel Greenberg at Levine Greenberg Rostan brokered the deal. Redefining Fast will be published in fall 2025.
Soho ‘Captivated’ by Horror Debut
Arthur C. Clarke Award winner Ned Beauman (Venomous Lumpsucker) has sold U.S. rights to The Captive to Mark Doten at Soho Press, making his horror fiction debut under the pen name Kit Burgoyne. The book will be published by Soho Press’s new horror fiction imprint, Hell’s Hundred. David Forrer at InkWell Management negotiated the deal on behalf of Jane Finigan at Lutyens & Rubinstein. Soho said the book, pitched as Succession meets The Final Girl Support Group, follows “a revolutionary group that kidnaps a wealthy heiress, only to discover she’s pregnant with the antichrist—and about to give birth.” The book is set for publication in fall 2025.
‘Theater Kid’ Stars at S&S
Maria Mendez at Simon & Schuster has acquired world rights to Theater Kid by Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller. David Kuhn and Nate Muscato at Aevitas Creative Management handled the deal. Seller is one of the masterminds behind such Tony Award–winning musicals as Avenue Q, Hamilton, In the Heights, and Rent. S&S said the book tells the story of Seller’s “hardscrabble childhood” outside of Detroit, and how he “chased his dreams against many odds” and found “acceptance and community” in the theater. Seller will also “pull back the curtain on the joyous and gut-wrenching process of making new musicals.” Theater Kid will debut in May 2025.
