One Signal Takes Alzheimer’s Cure Exposé
After an auction, Science investigative reporter Charles Piller has sold North American rights to Doctored: Fraud, Arrogance and Tragedy in the Quest to Cure Alzheimer’s to Nick Ciani at One Signal. Jill Grinberg at Jill Grinberg Literary Management negotiated the deal. Grinberg said the book is in the vein of Empire of Pain and Dopesick and reveals “the shocking story of how the cure for Alzheimer’s, a disease that currently afflicts seven million Americans and their loved ones, has been set back by corrupt scientists, negligent regulators, and the profit motives of Big Pharma—and how one young neuroscientist, backed by a network of scientific renegades, fought back.” Doctored will publish in February 2025.
London, Kensington Team Up for ‘Last Heist’
John Scognamiglio at Kensington has acquired world rights to bestselling romance author Julia London’s The Last Heist. David Purse at packager Inked Entertainment handled the deal, with London represented by Jenny Bent at the Bent Agency. Inked characterized the book as Ocean’s Eleven meets The Golden Girls, in which “an all-female group of chaotic elderly thieves come out of retirement for one last heist against a young crypto-loving dudebro, while trying to repair their fractured friendship along the way.” The Last Heist is set for a 2026 publication.
Bloomsbury Gets a Michelin Star
Harriet LeFavour at Bloomsbury has acquired North American rights to The Road to the Table, a cultural history of the Michelin Guide, by veteran culinary writer and former New Statesman wine columnist Nina Caplan (The Wandering Vine). Emily Sweet at Aevitas Creative brokered the deal. Bloomsbury said Caplan will tell the story of how “a tire-selling scheme sparked a culinary revolution, carved the modern map of France, and changed fine dining as we know it.” The book is scheduled for a spring 2026 release.
Avid Picks Up Worthy Memoir
Shannon Welch at Avid Reader Press has preempted North American rights to Becoming Worthy, by former NBA star James Worthy and Phil Taylor. David Black and Mark Tavani at the David Black Agency represented the authors. Tavani said Worthy tells his story of going from standout college player to being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1982 and becoming “a dominant figure in the NBA’s golden era.” He takes readers “deep inside one of the most iconic teams in American sports history” while also “candidly describing his inner struggles as an athlete, Black man, and person seeking better mental health and a more authentic life.” A pub date has not yet been set.
Donovan, Berkley Make Deal for the ‘Devil’
Kerry Donovan at Berkley has taken world rights to Lambda winner Alexandria Bellefleur’s first paranormal romantic comedy, The Devil She Knows. The two-book deal was brokered by Sarah Younger of the Nancy Yost Literary Agency after an 11-imprint auction. Berkley said the book is “a sapphic retelling” of the 2000s movie Bedazzled, featuring “a crafty, thousand-year-old demon who prefers to wear pink as she brokers for human souls, and a down-on-her-luck human recovering from a spectacularly humiliating breakup, who is willing to gamble everything for love.” The book is scheduled for fall 2025.
Simon Element Nabs Nutrition Guide
In a preempt, Simon Element executive editor Emily Graff has acquired world rights to 35 Chances, a nutrition guide by Culina Health cofounder and registered dietitian Vanessa Rissetto. Nena Madonia Oshman at the Nominate Group handled the deal. The publisher said Rissetto, a frequent guest on the Today show, will offer readers “a new take on nutrition that rejects dieting fads and instead provides a framework that empower readers to make healthy choices every day, throughout the day, with nutritional advice, sample meal plans, and easy recipes.” A pub date has not yet been announced.
