Zando Follows Litman’s Leadership
After an auction, Zando senior editor Sarah Ried has acquired, for Crooked Media Reads, world rights to a leadership book by Amanda Litman. Stephanie Delman at Trellis Literary Management brokered the deal. The as-yet-untitled book will explore how millennials and zoomers are “leading differently,” and how readers can “put their values into action” both at work and in their personal lives, according to the publisher. Litman is cofounder of Run for Something, a political group that supports young, diverse, progressive candidates running for local office. The book is set for a spring 2025 publication.
Mariner Lands Chee’s Latest
In an exclusive submission, Kate Nintzel at Mariner Books has acquired U.S. rights to Other People’s Husbands by Alexander Chee (Edinburgh). The deal was brokered by Jin Auh at the Wylie Agency, with David Ross at Penguin Canada acquiring Canadian rights. Mariner described the novel as a “darkly comic” story about a “queer Korean American novelist who returns to his alma mater as a visiting writer.” The book is scheduled for a fall 2025 publication.
Haddish Puts ‘Curse’ on Diversion
Elizabeth Gassman at Diversion Books has acquired world rights to I Curse You with Joy, a new collection of essays by stand-up comedian, actor, producer, and bestselling author Tiffany Haddish. Haddish was represented by Byrd Leavell at UTA. Diversion said the essays are “as humorous as they are heartfelt” and delve into “the highs and lows of life,” celebrating the lessons Haddish has learned along the way. The book is set for a May 2024 release.
Dey Street ‘Believes’ in McDonald and Reiser
Stuart Roberts at Dey Street Books has acquired Grammy-winning, platinum-selling recording artist Michael McDonald’s memoir What a Fool Believes, which will be written with actor, comedian, and bestselling author Paul Reiser. The deal was negotiated by Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management. Dey Street said the book will delve into McDonald’s career as a member of Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, and as a solo artist, while exploring “the insecurities that drove him, the addictions that plagued him, and the highs and lows of popularity.” The book will be published in May 2024.
Berkley Takes TikTok Star’s New Series
Berkley executive editor Esi Sogah has acquired world English rights for the first two books in the new Cosmic Chaos series, by author and TikTok sensation Kimberly Lemming. The two-book deal was negotiated by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary. Berkley said the first novel, I Got Abducted by Aliens So I’m Gonna Make It Everyone’s Problem, “follows a woman taken by a UFO to a planet populated by dinosaurs where she fights for survival alongside two attractive aliens who are both in love with her.” Berkley plans to publish I Got Abducted in spring 2025.
Steerforth Signs Tech Exec Soap Opera
Steerforth Press publisher Chip Fleischer has acquired world rights to Last Night in San Francisco: The Death of Bob Lee, the Limits of the City, and the End of Tech by Scott Alan Lucas, a Bay Area technology writer and former BuzzFeed editor. The deal was struck by Mark Tauber of the Watermark Agency. The book tells the story of mercurial tech exec Lee, who was found stabbed to death in April on the streets of San Francisco. Steerforth calls the book “a soap opera of sex, drugs, and violence.”
Riccioni Sells Duology to Angry Robot
Gemma Creffield at Angry Robot has acquired world English rights (excluding Australia and New Zealand) to an SF duology by short story writer Jo Riccioni. The deal was negotiated by Catherine Drayton of InkWell Management. The first book, The Branded, will be published in June 2024 with book two, The Rising, set for February 2025. Angry Robot describes the books as “The Handmaid’s Tale meets Mad Max set in a Game of Thrones world.”
Grand Central Sweeps Up de Rosnay’s ‘Dust’
In a preempt, Karen Kosztolnyik at Grand Central has acquired North American rights to Blonde Dust by Tatiana de Rosnay (Sarah’s Key). Susanna Lea of Susanna Lea Associates brokered the deal. Grand Central said the novel is “a redemptive tale” set in the American West in 1960 that captures “the unexpected relationship between the most famous movie star in the world and a young cleaning woman.” Blonde Dust is tentatively scheduled for summer 2025.
