Spanish Mountaineer's Book Preempted in France
Summits of My Life by Kilian Jornet, a professional mountaineer, has just been preempted by French publisher Arthaud (which is part of Flammarion). Ara Llibres will publish the book in Spanish and Catalan in October, and Ella Sher Agency controls rights on their behalf. Jornet, a famous Spanish climber who currently holds the fastest ascent and descent times for mountains like Matterhorn and Denali, looks back at his climbing accomplishments in the book, touching on the occasions when he fell short.
Simsion's Collaboration Draws Bidders
The Australian husband-and-wife writing team of Graeme Simsion (The Rosie Project) and Anne Buist has been drawing buzz with their first collaboration, a novel called Two Steps Forward. Rights have sold to, among other houses, Morrow (U.S.), Two Roads (U.K.), and S. Fischer Verlag (Germany). Australia's Text Publishing will release the book, a romantic comedy told in alternating perspectives, in October. The novel follows Zoe, a widowed American, and Martin, a divorced British engineer.
French Editor's Book Racks Up Sales
A nonfiction work called Climbing Mont Blanc, by Gallimard editor Ludovic Escande, has been acquired in Italy and Germany. The book chronicles Escande's attempt to climb Mont Blanc. The effort is both an attempt to fulfill his childhood dream, and the chance to overcome his recent divorce. The book will be published in France this month by Allary Editions and deals for it have also just closed with Einaudi (Italy) and Malik/Piper Verlag (Germany); Pocket has acquired French mass market rights. (The 2 Seas Agency is handling rights on Allary Editions' behalf.)
Pariat's 'Heart' Sells in Italy
Janice Pariat's The Nine Chambered Heart continues to pick up sales, with the most recent one being to Bompiani in Italy. We first reported on the book in June, and deals have already been made with, among others, HarperCollins (for world English) and Siruela (Spanish language). The Pontas Agency controls rights to the novel, which follows several characters recounting their relationship with one woman.
