Books creating buzz around the globe this week include a bestseller by a Dutch author who draws on her own life in her debut; a "mum-lit" novel by a Spanish author known for her YA; and the latest from the international bestseller who wrote The Ingredients of Love.
Portuguese Hit Sells Worldwide in Pre-empts
Since it was released in April 2014, Pedro Chagas Freitas' I Promise to Fail, a love story without a defined structure or characters, has sold 90,000 copies in 22 editions. In January the book was the #1 bestseller in its author's home country of Portugal. Published by Portuguese house Marcador Editora, the book has begun selling briskly around the globe; pre-empts have been accepted from Novo Conceito in Brazil; Planeta in Spain and Latin America; and Garzanti in Italy. Vicki Satlow of the Vicki Satlow Literary Agency controls rights.
Debut Becomes Bestseller in the Netherlands
Rivka, by first-time novelist Femmetje de Wind, has stormed onto the Dutch bestseller list after being released last month by local house Xander Publishers. Partly inspired by the life of the author's father, a holocaust survivor who lost his entire family, the novel follows Rivka Cohen, a successful women's magazine editor who keeps up the appearance of a happy life. When she runs into an ex-lover, Rivka finds out he is planning to unveil a secret about her father, and his past. De Wind owns a publishing company that specializes in women's magazines, called Wind Publishing. Marianne Schönbach of the Marianne Schönbach Literary Agency controls rights.
Spanish YA Scribe Tries Hand at "Mum-Lit"
Maria Frisa, known for her YA series 75 Tips to Survive in School (published by Alfaguara in Spain), has written a novel for adults, called Surviving the Perfect Mother, which is drawing interest. The novel was published earlier this year by Spanish house Espasa/Planeta, which described the book as "mum-lit." The heroine is a woman in her 40's who wants to be the perfect mother and wife, but also herself. Ella Sher of The Ella Sher Literary Agency in Barcelona handles rights.
New Barreau Novel Sells To Flurry of Publishers
The new novel by French-born author Nicolas Barreau, Paris Is Always A Good Idea, has sold to several foreign publishers, including St. Martin's Press, which acquired the book in the U.S. Barreau, who wrote the bestseller The Ingredients of Love, here follows the unexpected encounter between a post-card shop owner and an American literature professor. Rights to the book are controlled by Barcelona's SalmaiaLit Agency. In addition to SMP, which took world English rights, the book has sold to Feltrinelli in Italy; Planeta in Spain; Thiele Verlag (hardcover) and Piper Verlag (paperback) in Germany; and to houses in Finland, Bulgaria, and France.
Finnish Picture Book Finds Audience Abroad
Enchanted Lion Books has acquired world English rights to the picture book My Little Creature, written by Ulf Stark with illustrations by Linda Bondestam. Originally published in Finland by Schildts & Söderströms, the book was nominated for the Finlandia Junior Prize. The book follows a creature who lives in a dark cave and falls in love with sunshine. Berghs acquired the book in Sweden, and all rights are controlled by the Elina Ahlback Literary Agency.
