Blauner to Rager
Rager Media, a new Ohio-based independent publisher focusing on literary fiction and poetry, has acquired two novels from agent Andrew Blauner, who sold world English rights to both to editor Christopher White. The first is David Evanier's The Great Kisser, about the events that unfold in a middle-aged writer's life after his dying psychologist bequeaths him the tapes of 30 years of his therapy sessions. Evanier, a former editor at the Paris Review, is the author of the novel Red Love (Scribner) and the story collection The One-Star Jew (North Point), as well as two more recent works of nonfiction; this is his first book of fiction in 15 years. Publication is slated for this October.
Rager will also publish Floyd Skloot's Patient 002, which takes on the battleground of human medical research from a patient's point of view. Skloot is the author of 12 books, including the 2003 PEN Award—winning memoir In the Shadow of Memory (Univ. of Nebraska). A spring 2007 publication date is anticipated.
Restrepo to Talese
Luke Epplin at Doubleday/Nan A. Talese has acquired world English rights to Colombian novelist Laura Restrepo's Delirio and a second unwritten novel, from agent Thomas Colchie. Delirio, which tells the story of a man's attempt to unravel the mystery of his wife's mental breakdown during his brief absence from home, won the 2004 Alfaguara Prize for fiction and has 250,000 copies in print in the Spanish-speaking world. Restrepo's last three novels to appear in English were published by Ecco.
Business Books for '06
A couple of offbeat examples of the genre have made recent deals. First, Tim Moore, Prentice-Hall editor-in-chief, signed up The Little Red Book of Selling author Jeffrey Gitomer's next one, titled The Little Red Book of Sales Answers. Moore acquired world rights directly from the author. The Little Red Book of Selling, a surprise hit when it was published by Bard Press last year, has sold 300,000 copies. Gitomer, a consultant whose clients include Coca-Cola and Mercedes-Benz, does more than 100 presentations a year and has a column called "Sales Moves" that appears in 90 local business newspapers, as well as an e-newsletter, "Sales Caffeine." PH is crashing the book for an anticipated April publication.
And Peter Miller at PMA sold The Bullwinkle Code: Lessons from the Moosylvanian Master of Motivation by John Hoover to Phil Revzin at St. Martin's. The book uses humorous fictional characters, from the titular moose, Bullwinkle, to his sidekick, Rocket J. (Rocky) Squirrel, to illustrate basic business insights and deliver a program designed to reinvigorate any enterprise in 10 lessons. Hoover is a business humorist whose most recent book is How to Sell to an Idiot (Wiley); Revzin acquired North American rights and publication is expected in fall 2006.
A Zindel's Debut
Lizabeth Zindel, daughter of noted YA author and Pulitzer Prize—winning playwright Paul, has sold her own YA novel, titled Girl of the Moment, to Regina Hayes and Joy Peskin at Viking/Speak in a three-book deal, at auction. Stephanie Lehmann at Elaine Koster brokered the deal for North American rights. Zindel's novel focuses on a high school girl's summer job assisting a Lindsay Lohan—like teen idol who has a backstabbing entourage and an irresistible boyfriend. Zindel works as an in-house producer with Maverick Films, Madonna's entertainment company.
The Briefing
Little, Brown's Reagan Arthur has acquired U.S. rights to two thrillers by Denise Mina from agent Henry Dunow on behalf of Rachel Calder in the U.K. Field of Blood, the first novel in Mina's Paddy Meehan series, was published last summer. Arthur also acquired reprint rights to Mina's first three novels, known as the Garnethill trilogy, from Carroll & Graf.
