Sarah Fabiny at Grosset & Dunlap acquired eight books in Martin Widmark's The Whodunit Detective Agency, an internationally bestselling Swedish mystery series. Widmark has been referred to as "the children’s Agatha Christie," and the chapter book series has sold over 2.5 million copies around the world. The books, illustrated by Helena Willis and aimed at ages 7–10, focus on two friends and classmates who run a detective agency in their small town. Widmark, who lives in Stockholm, is a former middle school teacher and textbook author. Grosset will publish the first two titles in the series, which has been adapted to TV and film in Sweden, in August 2014. Seth Fishman at the Gernert Agency brokered the deal for North American rights.
Christian Trimmer at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to Apocalypse Already, a debut YA novel by singer-songwriter Tommy Wallach. In the book, the lives of four teens intersect and overlap several weeks before a meteor is set to pass through Earth’s orbit – with a 66.6% chance of striking and destroying all life on the planet. Publication is set for spring 2015; John M. Cusick of Greenhouse Literary brokered the two-book deal.
Jessica Garrison at Dial has bought two more contemporary teen romances by former romance editor Huntley Fitzpatrick, whose debut novel My Life Next Door was published by Dial in summer 2012. Dial is releasing Fitzpatrick's sophomore novel, What I Thought Was True, in April 2014; the first title in the new deal will be a sequel to My Life Next Door. Christina Hogrebe at the Jane Rotrosen Agency sold world rights.
Alison Weiss at Egmont has acquired Sarah McGuire's debut novel, Valiant, a reimagining of the Brothers Grimm's "The Brave Little Tailor." In the tale, Saville may have to reveal her secret – and her bravery – when she becomes embroiled in dangerous city politics, and must face an approaching army of giants. Tracey Adams at Adams Literary negotiated the deal for North American rights.
Leah Hultenschmidt of Sourcebooks has acquired Breaking Sky, a YA novel by Cori McCarthy (The Color of Rain) in a two-book deal, to be edited by Aubrey Poole. Set in a dystopic future in the build-up to World War III, the story is about a daredevil young pilot tasked with testing a prototype jet designed to knock enemy drones out of the sky, only to find herself flying dangerous missions alongside a boy who stirs up buried feelings, which could endanger them both. Publication is scheduled for fall 2014; Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency held the auction for North American rights.
Maggie Lehrman at Abrams has acquired a third title by Splintered author A.G. Howard for Amulet Books, making the books a trilogy. A sequel, Unhinged, releases in January 2014 and the third title, Ensnared, pubs in January 2015. The books are a fictional retelling of Alice in Wonderland. Jenny Bent of the Bent Agency negotiated the deal for world English rights.
