Robert Davis at Forge acquired North American rights to Paradox, by father-daughter duo Douglas and Aletheia Preston (pictured l.), from Eric Simonoff at William Morris Endeavor. The publisher said the thriller follows CBI agent Frankie Cash and Eagle County, Colo., sheriff Jim Colcord from Extinction on “their most enigmatic and dangerous case yet, which begins in Rome with the inexplicable defacement of an ancient holy relic before taking readers to the scene of a ritualistic murder in the Colorado wilderness.” Publication is set for April 2026.

David Levithan at Scholastic bought North American rights to Outside, a middle grade novel by three-time Newbery Honoree Jennifer L. Holm, from Jill Grinberg, who has an eponymous agency. The publishersaid the book, which is set for a fall release, is about a 12-year-old girl who “has always been told that Outside isn’t safe and that the walls of the Refuge will protect her but, guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, begins to wonder what she will find beyond.”

Emilia Rhodes at Atria landed North American rights, in an exclusive, six-book deal, to a series and two standalone novels by Elsie Silver from Kimberly Brower at Park, Fine, & Brower, with Brittany Lavery at S&S Canada acquiring Canadian rights. A spin-off of two previous series by Silver—Chestnut Springs and Rose Hill—the Emerald Lake series is about a family who owns a struggling horse, the publisher said, “and brings out all the best of Elsie’s romances—strong and lovable characters, a gorgeous setting, and a wonderful community at its core.” The first Emerald Lake title is set for summer 2026.

Colin Dickerman at Grand Central preempted North American rights to Godfall by Van Jensen and two planned sequels from Lucy Cleland at Calligraph. The publisher called the book “a sci-fi crime thriller about a sheriff who must contend with swift social change and a string of murders when a giant alien drops on his remote corner of Nebraska.” Simon Taylor at Transworld took U.K. rights, and Imagine Entertainment picked up dramatic rights, at auction, with Ron Howard attached to direct. Publication is set for early 2026.

Greg Ruggiero at Seven Stories purchased world English rights to Elon Musk: American Oligarch, a graphic biography by Darryl Cunningham, from French publisher Editions Delcourt. The publisher said the book, set for a September release, “uses Cunningham’s signature pictographic style to peel back the layers of myth around Musk, delivering a timely portrait that traces his journey from his family roots in South Africa and his grandfather’s role in the technocracy movement to his current position at the apex of tech power and far-right politics.”

In Brief

  • Mary Altman at Sourcebooks bought world English rights, in a six-figure deal, to Daniel G. Miller’s thriller Big Island from Mark Gottlieb at Trident, for a late 2026 release.
  • Toni Kirkpatrick at Diversion picked up world rights, in an exclusive, to 14 romantasy titles by T.C. Kraven across two series, Dark Fates and NOLA After Dark, from Amy Collins at Talcott Notch. The series starters hit shelves this October and next November, respectively.
  • Ryan Doherty at Celadon netted world English rights to Edgar Award winner Caitlin Mullen’s Heather, a women-led police mystery set in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, from Sarah Bedingfield at Levine Greenberg Rostan, for a spring 2026 release.
  • Tara Singh Carlson at Putnam won North American rights, at auction, to two books in Brittanée Nicole’s Hope Harbor series from Amelia Evans at Penguin Random House U.K. The first, Darling Daffodils Farm, is set for spring 2026.
  • Alex Bolotow at Chelsea Green secured North American rights to Betting on the Farm by Jack and Shannon Algiere and Seeding Hope by Jack Algiere, on farming startups, from Adriana Stimola at Stimola Literary, due out in fall 2026 and 2027.

This article has been updated for clarity.