Isabel Ibañez Goes to Saturday

Saturday Books executive editor Eileen Rothschild has acquired North American rights to two Renaissance-inspired adult fantasies by YA author and illustrator Isabel Ibañez (Woven in Moonlight). The publisher said the first book in the deal, Ravenna, follows a young Italian sculptor “with a rare magical gift,” who, hoping to free her brother from a ruthless immortal family, must uncover the family’s secrets “while battling a doomed attraction to an enigmatic heir assigned to kill her.” Details were not released for the second book, Odette. Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord Literistic brokered the deal. Ravenna is set to publish in winter 2026.

Berkley Uncovers ‘Secret Lives’

After an auction, Berkley executive editor Kerry Donovan has taken U.S. rights to The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives by Elizabeth Arnott, who is also known for historical fiction written as Lizzie Pook (Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter). The two-book deal was negotiated by Madeleine Milburn at Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency. Berkley said the book is set in 1960s California, “when criminal profiling was in its infancy,” and tells the story of three women “whose lives have been cracked wide open by discoveries of their husbands’ crimes.” Secret Lives is scheduled for spring 2026.

David Ellis and Putnam ‘Play Nice’

Edgar winner David Ellis has sold world rights to Play Nice to Ivan Held at Putnam. Susanna Einstein at Einstein Literary Management handled the deal. Putnam said the book is “a twisty domestic thriller told from alternating perspectives” that follows “a brother and sister faced with a murder in their tight-knit family, with each sibling under investigation.” Ellis’s 2022 thriller Look Closer is a BookTok favorite. No pub date has been announced for Play Nice.

Ballantine Nabs Harlequin Editor’s Debut

In a preempt, Wendy Wong at Ballantine and Sarah St. Pierre at Random House Canada have secured world rights to former Harlequin editor Emily Ohanjanians’s The Book Tour as part of a two-book deal. Sharon Pelletier at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret negotiated the agreement. The publishers describe The Book Tour as “a hilarious, sexy rom-com about a debut author and her new publicist who find themselves crossing the professional line when sparks fly on her book tour.” No pub date has been announced.


Ramisetti’s ‘Other Lata’ to Grand Central

In a two-book deal, Grand Central executive editorial director Karen Kosztolnyik has acquired North American rights to The Other Lata by Kirthana Ramisetti, author of the GMA Book Club Pick Dava Shastri’s Last Day. The deal was brokered by Andrea Somberg at Harvey Klinger Literary Agency. Grand Central said The Other Lata, set for an April 2025 publication, is about “a woman inundated with invitations meant for a socialite who shares the same name, and in attending the swanky events catches the attention of a handsome fashion designer—as well as the wrath of the mysterious woman she is impersonating.”


Atria Lands Self-Published Romantasy

Emilia Rhodes at Atria has picked up world English rights to the first two volumes in Penn Cole’s self-published romantasy epic The Kindred’s Curse Saga, plus a new adult fantasy. Atria said Spark of the Everflame (scheduled for October) and Glow of the Everflame (set for December), the first two books in the four-book series, feature Diem Bellator, “a mortal healer who must navigate the unwritten rules of love, power, and politics when she enters the dangerous world of the Descended in search of her mother and the shocking truth about her past.” Kimberly Whalen at the Whalen Agency brokered the deal. Atria will publish Cole’s original fantasy title in spring 2026.