In this week's roundup of books generating interest around the globe, an Italian bestseller about a talented perfumer picks up heat; a Spanish novel about an Oxford professor drawn into a murder investigation picks up multiple foreign sales; and more.
Debut by 'Fifty Shades' Translator Creates Buzz
The debut novel by Silvia Zucca, the Italian translator of Fifty Shades Darker, has sold in a major deal in Italy. The rom-com was acquired by Nord in a six-publisher auction, and has racked up 14 international sales. In Astrological Guide for Broken Hearts heroine Alice Bassi mounts a search for love, relying on the Zodiac, after she finds out her ex is going to be a father. Rights are controlled by Laura Ceccacci of the Laura Ceccacci Literary Agency. Nord will publish Astrological Guide next summer. Sales have closed with publishers in, among other countries, Spain, Hungary, Germany, France and Brazil. Additionally, world English rights have sold to Johanna Castillo at Atria Books.
Finnish YA Pirate Series Sparks Interest
Mintie Das's debut YA pirate series, Storm Sisters, has caught the eye of a number of foreign houses. The Indian author--who now resides in Finland--has worked as an editor and in public relations; she is represented by Elina Ahlback of the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency. Gramedia Group of Retail and Publishing in Indonesia has acquired the title, and Ahlback said that more sales will be announced shortly. Set in the late 1700s, the novel is about five girls who must survive "The Day of Destruction," a day when they were to die with their families. The first book in the series is called The Sinking World. The Finnish publisher of the book will be announced soon, and a full English translation is available.
Llobregat's 'Secret' Travels from Spain
Spanish author Jordi Llobregat has making waves for his novel, Vesalius' Secret, which was sold--Spanish and Catalan rights--to Destino (Planeta). Destino has the title, which has also sold to publishers in Portugal, Italy and Brazil, for May 2105. Ella Sher of the Barcelona-based Ella Sher Literary Agency controls rights, and more deals are pending in the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, China and Israel. Set in Barcelona in the late 19th Century, the novel focuses on young Oxford professor Daniel Caralt, who is drawn into a murder case after the bodies of several mutilated girls are discovered. The book is being compared to the Spanish bestseller by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, The Shadow of the Wind.
German Book Prize Winner Draws Notice
The debut novel by Lutz Seiler, Kruso, which won the 2014 German Book Prize and topped the Spiegel bestseller list in October, is drawing interest from multiple foreign publishers. The title was released in Germany in September by Suhrkamp and, according to the publisher, approximately 150,000 copies have sold to date. The novel follows a man named Edgar Bendler who, after an accident, steps out of his own life and becomes a dishwasher on a secluded island. When Bendler meets Alexander Krusowitsch (and the Kruso of the title), Bendler is initiated into "the rituals of the seasonal workers and the rules that govern their nights." Suhrkamp controls all rights, and sales have been made, thus far, to Scribe (world English); Verdier (France); Del Vecchio (Italy); Dutch Media Group (The Netherlands); Batzer & Co. (Denmark); Norstedts (Sweden); Gyldendal Norsk (Norway); Jagielonian UP (Poland); Europa (Hungary); Atlantis (Bulgaria); RAO (Romania); and Antares (Armenia).
Italian Bestseller Goes International
Pitched as Chocolat meets Perfume, Cristina Caboni's debut novel, The Secret Ways of Perfume, has sold 80,000 copies in Italy since local house Garzanti published it in May. Set between Florence and Paris, it follows a young woman who has has the ability to create the perfect perfume for every person she meets. Rights are controlled by Laura Ceccacci of the Laura Ceccacci Literary Agency and foreign sales of the novel have been brisk. The novel has been acquired by publishers in, among other countries, Germany, Spain, France, Turkey and Greece. The novel has not yet been sold in the States, but Transworld, in the U.K., has acquired world English rights.
Correction: An earlier version of this article mistakenly referred to Mintie Das as Finnish; she is Indian. Additionally, her novel, The Sinking World, does not, as of this writing, have a Finnish publisher.
