Katherine Tegen at HarperCollins/Tegen has acquired North American rights for two standalone fantasy novels by Garth Nix, author of the Old Kingdom series. The first book, Angel Mage, is set in an alternative 19th-century Europe with beastlings, angels, and an ageless young woman with angelic powers, who is bent on reuniting with her lover—no matter the cost to anyone else. The book is set to publish simultaneously around the world in October 2019. In the second book, The Left-Handed Booksellers of London, young art student Susan comes to London in 1983 in search of the father she never knew and is drawn into the arcane business of the booksellers whose secret sideline is to ensure that mythic entities and dormant legends do not disastrously intrude into the modern world. The book is slated for publication in 2020. The novels were acquired by Gillian Redfearn at Gollancz for the U.K.; and Eva Mills at Allen & Unwin for Australia/N.Z. The U.S. and U.K. deals were made by Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management; and ANZ by Fiona Inglis of Curtis Brown Australia.
Hali Baumstein at Bloomsbury has preempted The Dragon Warrior author Katie Zhao's YA debut, How We Fall Apart. Pitched as One of Us Is Lyingmeets Crazy Rich Asians, the thriller follows scholarship student Nancy Luo and her friends at an elite Manhattan prep school after their best-friend-turned-rival Jamie Ruan is found dead. But once Jamie's death is ruled a homicide, and an anonymous figure threatens to expose everyone's deepest, darkest secrets on the school's social media app, Nancy decides to find the real killer—even if it's one of her friends. Publication is planned for winter 2021; Penny Moore at Aevitas Creative Management negotiated the two-book deal for world rights.
Andrew Karre at Dutton has acquired, at auction, debut author Candice Iloh's Ada. Set during freshman year of college at an HBCU, the novel-in-verse follows a Nigerian-American teen who must grapple with her family's expectations and her own childhood trauma when she begins taking dance classes that cause her to reimagine how she defines herself and what she wants from her future. Publication is scheduled for fall 2020; Patricia Nelson at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for world English rights.
Kate Farrell at Holt has bought world English rights to Jen Larsen's novel The Big Reveal. Pitched as a body-positive Fame for YA readers, the novel follows a talented, proudly plus-sized dancer on scholarship at an elite boarding school, who starts an underground burlesque club to finance her dreams. Publication is set for spring 2020; Allison Hellegers at Rights People brokered the deal on behalf of Lynn Weingarten and Marianna Baer at Dovetail Fiction/Working Partners. The author was repped by Cheryl Pientka (now at Nancy Yost Literary Agency) on behalf of Jill Grinberg Literary Management.
Holly West at Feiwel and Friends has acquired, in a preempt, debut author, former CIA analyst, and disability rights activist Cindy L. Otis's How Spies Spot Fake News, a YA nonfiction book that covers the history of fake news and provides actionable steps for readers to train their ability to find the truth. Publication is expected in spring 2020; Caryn Wiseman at Andrea Brown Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Sarah McCabe at Simon Pulse has bought Sarah Raughley's new fantasy, The Bones of Ruin. Set in Victorian England, the book follows Iris, an African tightrope walker with a secret: she cannot die. But when Iris gets involved with a mysterious society that's convinced the world is ending, she's drafted in the fight-to-the-death Tournament of Freaks where she learns the terrible truth of who and what she really is. Publication is slated for summer 2021; Natalie Lakosil at Bradford Literary Agency negotiated the three-book deal for world rights.
Beth Dunfey at Scholastic has commissioned Sarah Rees Brennan to write Season of the Witch, a prequel novel inspired by the Netflix original series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The summer before her fateful 16th birthday, the teenage witch casts an enchantment on her crush, a move that goes terribly awry once a woodland spirit gets involved. The novel will be published July 2019; Suzie Townsend at New Leaf Literary & Media brokered the deal for world rights.
Susan Van Metre at Walker Books US has acquired, at auction, The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, a three-book novelization of the Peabody Award-winning serialized mystery podcast by the same name, created by Benjamin Strouse, David Kreizman, Chris Tarry, and Jenny Turner Hall. The books will be written by Sheela Chari. The story invites readers to join 11-year-old Mars and his friends as they investigate the mysterious connection between disappearing kids and the famous billionaire inventor, Oliver Pruitt. Publication is planned for fall 2020; Marietta Zacker at Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency, in collaboration with Steven Malk at Writers House, negotiated the deal for world English rights.
Karen Boss at Charlesbridge has bought Irene Latham's middle-grade dystopian novel in verse, D-39 & Me. The story follows Klynt, a lonely 12-year-old girl living in a war-torn land who finds a D-39 robodog, and with the neighbor boy and dog in tow, races for the border to seek safety and reunite with her mother. Along the way, they meet friends and foes, and Klynt learns that D-39 is carrying a secret. Publication is scheduled for summer 2021; Rosemary Stimola at Rosemary Stimola Studio did the deal for world rights.
Sally Morgridge at Holiday House has acquired world rights to Out to Get You, a collection of horror stories by debut author Josh Allen, illustrated by Sarah Coleman. Pitched as a mashup of Stephen King and The Twilight Zone, with a dash of Jon Scieszka's sensibility, the 13 tales feature a creepy, weird, and humorous vibe. Publication is set for fall 2019; Rick Margolis at Rising Bear Literary brokered the deal for the author, and Matthew Palizay at Bernstein & Andriulli represented the illustrator.
Katie Carella at Scholastic has bought Anna Staniszewski's Branches early chapter book series Once Upon a Fairy Tale, in a four-book deal. The first book, The Magic Mirror, follows two unlikely Enchanted Kingdom heroes as they track down missing mirrors and broken glass slippers in search of that elusive happily ever after. The series kicks off in fall 2019; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal for world rights.
Clarissa Wong at HarperCollins has acquired a picture book from Found Dogs author-illustrator Erica Sirotich. Can We Be Friends? features unusual animal pairs, from famous hippo and tortoise Owen and Mzee to less well-known real-life animal besties. Publication is slated for summer 2020; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.
Margaret Ferguson at Holiday House/Ferguson has bought world rights to April Jones Prince's (l.) You Are a Reader/You Are a Writer, a double-sided picture book that begins from each side and meets in the middle, illustrated by Christine Davenier. The book celebrates all kinds of readers and writers and the way the reading and writing processes are intertwined. Publication is set for summer 2021; Studio Goodwin Sturges represented both the author and the illustrator.
Andrea Tompa at Candlewick has acquired world rights to How to Apologize by David LaRochelle (l.), illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka, who previously collaborated on Moo!The introduction to the art of the apology uses humorous examples and straightforward language to introduce the very young to the importance of saying "sorry." Publication is planned for spring 2021; both the author and the illustrator were unagented.
Andrea Welch at S&S/Beach Lane has bought world rights to Hannah Barnaby's (l.) Home Is..., an exploration of the variety of animal homes found throughout the natural world. The picture book will be illustrated by Maurice Sendak Fellow Frann Preston-Gannon; publication is scheduled for fall 2020. Linda Pratt at Wernick & Pratt represented the author, and Kirsten Hall at Catbird Productions represented the illustrator.
Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired world rights to Talia Aikens-Nuñez's (l.) bilingual picture book, Sueñito/Little Nap, illustrated by Argentinian artist Natalia Colombo. The book is about the simple activities that tire baby out and lead to a small, sweet nap. Publication is set for spring 2021; Susan Graham at Einstein Literary Management represented the author, and Mela Bolinao at MB Artists represented the illustrator.
