DEAL OF THE WEEK
Knopf Surrenders to Bono
In a world rights agreement inked seven years ago but only recently announced, Knopf’s late editor-in-chief Sonny Mehta acquired Surrender by Bono. The memoir is set for November, when it will also be released simultaneously in 15 territories outside the U.S. In it, the publisher said, the U2 lead singer reveals his “remarkable life and those he has shared it with.” Bono, born Paul David Hewson, takes readers “from his early days growing up in Dublin, including the sudden loss of his mother when he was 14, to U2’s unlikely journey to become one of the world’s most influential rock bands, to his more than 20 years of activism.” Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown brokered the deal on behalf of Bono.
Happy Days for Winkler at Celadon
Celadon’s Deb Futter took world rights to Henry Winkler’s currently untitled memoir. The veteran actor—who also directs, produces, and has written several bestselling children’s books—was represented by Esther Newberg at ICM Partners. The book is set for 2024, and Celadon said of the project, “Winkler has led an extraordinary life, which will translate into an extraordinary memoir.”
Davis Sells Memoir to HarperOne
Actor and activist Geena Davis sold a currently untitled memoir to HarperOne, with Judith Curr acquiring North American rights from the Creative Artists Agency. Set for an October release, the book, Harper said, will frame what Davis calls her “journey to badassery,” detailing how she transformed herself from a polite child into “an actor whose roles instilled in her a sense of strength and fortitude as she navigated a career in the spotlight, all the way to becoming a late-blooming data geek who decided to change Hollywood.” Davis, in addition to her Oscar for acting, won an honorary Oscar for the work she’s done through her foundation, the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Rakesh Satyal at HarperOne will edit the book.
Tin House Editor Acquires First Title
Hanif Abdurraqib, in his new role as editor-at-large at Tin House, acquired North American rights to When They Tell You to Be Good, a memoir by Prince Shakur. The book details Shakur’s coming of age as a closeted queer Black child in Ohio and as a writer, activist, and organizer during both the Obama and Trump presidencies. Shakur, 27, has been the recipient of the Hurston/Wright Crossover Award, and his writing has been featured in Teen Vogue and Catapult. The memoir is set for October.
Boyne’s Latest Goes to Dorman
Pamela Dorman at Pamela Dorman Books acquired U.S. rights to Irish author John Boyne’s All the Broken Places. Laura Bonner at William Morris Endeavor sold the adult novel at auction on behalf of Simon Trewin Creative, and the book is slated for 2023. Boyne is the author of several bestsellers for adults and children, including The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. All the Broken Places tells the story of a 91-year-old woman who confronts her own terrible past in Nazi Germany and strives to make amends in the present day.
Viking Takes Bullwinkel’s ‘Headshot’
North American rights to Rita Bullwinkel’s debut novel, Headshot, have gone to Paul Slovak and Allie Merola at Viking after an auction run by Katie Cacouris at the Wylie Agency. Bullwinkel (Belly Up) is an editor-at-large for McSweeney’s, a teacher at the California College for the Arts in San Francisco, and a recipient of a 2022 Whiting Award. Headshot, Viking said, follows a group of female teenage boxers who gather for a tournament, and depicts “the forces and desires that drive each of these young women to attempt to dominate in the ring.”
