SMP Hits the Dancehall with Cannon
In a world rights deal, Monique Patterson at St. Martin’s Press acquired a tie-in novel by Nick Cannon, based on his forthcoming film King of the Dancehall. The movie, which premiered at this month’s Toronto Film Festival, is written and directed by Cannon; he also stars in it as a young man who, after being released from prison, leaves Brooklyn for Kingston, Jamaica, to reinvent himself. Once in Jamaica, he becomes a successful drug runner and falls for a local woman. The tie-in book, also called King of the Dancehall, is set for a January release. Doug Johnson at ICM Partners brokered the agreement with Patterson.

Levy Closes Double at Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury USA’s Lea Beresford took U.S. rights to two new books by Deborah Levy, whose previous novels include the Man Booker–shortlisted Swimming Home (2011). The first book, called The Man Who Saw Everything, is, the publisher said, “about a psychological crash, the demands of masculinity, and the nature of deception.” The second book will be a new edition of the author’s memoir Things I Don’t Want to Know, which Bloomsbury originally published in 2014. The updated edition will feature two new sections and will be published under the original title. Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency represented Levy.

Hodge Touches the Void at ChiZine
Fantasy house ChiZine Publications bought world rights to Brian Hodge’s short story collection The Immaculate Void. The book, which marks Hodge’s fifth full-length story collection, was acquired by ChiZine copublisher Brett Savoy. Describing the title, which Hodge sold without an agent, Savoy said it is largely a work of “cosmic horror” and features various pieces published by the author since 2010.

Berkley’s Donovan Signs Two Six-Figure Deals
Berkley executive editor Kerry Donovan closed two six-figure deals last week. In the first, she preempted world rights to two novels by debut author Lexie Elliott. The books are both works of suspense, and the first, The Mademoiselle Next Door, follows a group of school friends living in London after college. It focuses on one friend whose life begins to unravel when evidence emerges that she may have been involved in a crime years ago. Folio Literary Management’s Marcy Posner represented Elliott, and Mademoiselle is currently set for 2018.
In the second deal, Donovan preempted world rights to The Intermission and another, currently untitled novel, by Elyssa Friedland (Love and Miss Communication). The Intermission, which is set for 2018 as well, is, Berkley said, “told from the dual perspectives of a husband and wife” and is “an incisive and thought-provoking examination of a marriage in jeopardy.” Stefanie Lieberman at Janklow & Nesbit brokered the agreement with Donovan.

Gaga’s Dad Hits the Kitchen for Post Hill
Lady Gaga’s father, Joe Germanotta, sold a cookbook to Post Hill Press based on recipes from Joanne Trattoria, the Italian restaurant that he and his wife opened in Manhattan in 2012. Anthony Ziccardi took world rights to The Joanne Trattoria Cookbook in a deal arranged by Creative Artists Agency. Featuring a foreword by Lady Gaga, the title, which will also include photos from the eatery, is slated for a November 16 release.

Nuhfer Uses Her Superpowers on Imprint
For Macmillan’s Imprint, Erin Stein nabbed world rights to My So-Called Super Powers, Heather Nuhfer’s middle grade novel. The deal also includes two more books in what is a planned series; it follows a 13-year-old girl named Veronica McGowan, who, the publisher said, “is a typical, unremarkable, average 13-year-old who is desperate to be an ‘est’—cutest, smartest, funniest—but instead she just might be the weirdest.” Bernadette Baker-Baughman at Victoria Sanders & Associates represented Nuhfer.