Debut About Nobel Winner Draws Buyers
Juan Gómez Bárcena's debut novel The Sky Over Lima has sold to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in the U.S., as well as to Frassinelli (Italy) and Alfaguara (Brazil). The book focuses on an odd footnote involving the Spanish author, Juan Ramón Jiménez. In 1904, two would-be Peruvian poets started a correspondence with Jiménez (who went on to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1956). Trying to obtain signed copies of his work, the poets wrote to Jiménez under the guise of a non-existent women from Lima, named Georgina. This imaginary woman would serve as the inspiration for one of Jiménez’s best-loved poems: “Letter to Georgina Hübner in the Sky Over Lima." Rights for the book are handled on behalf of Salto de Página by Ella Sher of The Ella Sher Literary Agency.
Raabe's Thriller Spreads Beyond Germany
The debut thriller by Melanie Raabe, The Trap, due out from btb/Random House Germany in March 2015, has already sold to several major publishers, including Cargo (the Netherlands), Text (world English/Australia), Corbaccio (Italy), and Grijalbo (Spain). Btb controls world rights and says more offers are pending. The book centers on Linda, a famous writer who has become a recluse since she discovered her sister's body, 12 years earlier. Linda, who also glimpsed the killer fleeing the scene, writes a novel about the case in order to get an important interview: with the journalist she believes committed the crime.
Hertmans Nabs AKO Literature Prize
Stefan Hertmans has won the AKO Literature Prize for his 2013 novel, War and Turpentine, which was originally published by Dutch house De Bezige Bij (which controls world rights). The prize--which comes with a purse of €50,000--has brought renewed attention to the book, which is based on Hertman's grandfather's experiences in WWI. Rights have been sold to Knopf (North America), Harvill Secker (UK), Text (ANZ), Hanser Berlin (Germany), Gallimard (France), as well as in Italy, Denmark, Serbia, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland and Japan.
Spanish Hit Optioned for Film
The Last Night at Tremore Beach, a psychological thriller by Mikel Santiago, which was published in Spain last June by Ediciones B, has been optioned by Mod Producciones (The Others). In the novel, Peter Harper retreats to Northern Ireland after his divorce. There, he falls in love with an expat named Judie, who refuses to talk about her past. After Peter is struck by lightning, he begins having terrible headaches and visions about a secret Judie, and his neighbors, are hiding. Salmaia Lit controls world rights to the novel, and sales have been made to Atria (world English), De Geus (Netherlands), Suma (Brazil), Hayakawa (Japan), as well as in Poland, Greece, France, Croatia, and Portugal.
Screenwriter's Novel Sells to 22 Publishers
The debut novel The Truth and Other Lies, by screenwriter Sascha Arango, has sold to 22 publishers, with more offers pending. C. Bertelsmann, which published the book in February, controls world rights. The novel features a Mr. Ripley-like central character named Henry, who is a bestselling author and a seemingly loving husband. When Henry's mistress--who also happens to be his editor--becomes pregnant, he resorts to desperate measures. Rights have been sold to Albin Michel (France), Objetiva (Brazil), Signatuur (the Netherlands), and Seix Barral (Spain), among others. Australian and world English rights sold to Text, which sold subrights to Atria in the U.S., and to Simon & Schuster U.K. Film rights have been optioned by Chockstone Pictures (The Road and Tree of Life).
