DEAL OF THE WEEK

Hogarth Nabs Two by Kang

For Hogarth, Parisa Ebrahimi took North American rights to two novels by Man Booker winner Han Kang. Agent Laurence Laluyaux at London’s Rogers, Coleridge and White handled the agreement for the Korean author. The first book under contract, Greek Lessons, was published in South Korea in 2011; Hogarth said it “tells the interwoven stories of a Greek instructor who is losing his sight and a woman who refuses to speak.” Set to be released in the U.S. in April 2023, Greek Lessons will be translated by Deborah Smith. Human Acts, the second book in the deal, is slated for April 2024 and will be translated by Emily Won; it was published in South Korea in 2021 and follows a character who returns to Jeju Island, where a massacre occurred in 1948.

Ballantine Buys More Graham Essays

Former Gilmore Girls star and bestselling author Lauren Graham sold an essay collection to Sara Weiss at Ballantine. Have I Told You This Already, the author’s second book of personal essays (after the 2016 bestseller Talking as Fast as I Can), will, the publisher said, feature “stories that range from the sublime to the ridiculous.” Esther Newberg at ICM Partners handled the world rights agreement.

Atria Enters Howard’s ‘Valley’

In a six-figure deal, Loan Le at Simon & Schuster imprint Atria took U.S., Canadian, and open market rights to Scott Alexander Howard’s The Other Valley in a two-book agreement. S&S Canada acquired the titles jointly, and Roz Foster at Frances Goldin Literary Agency represented Howard in the agreement. Planned for a spring 2024 release, The Other Valley is a speculative work set in a valley that, Atria said, is “surrounded by other valleys, each 20 years apart in time.” Grieving residents of the main valley can seek permission to visit the other valleys—going either forward or backward in time. The novel follows “a candidate training to oversee such requests, who spots two visitors from the future: the grieving parents of the boy she loves.” Howard is Canadian and has a PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto.

Doom-sday at Astra House

Astra House’s Daniel Vazquez bought a biography of MF Doom by S.H. Fernando Jr. at auction. The Chronicles of Doom charts the life of the rapper, born Daniel Dumile, who died in 2020 at age 49. Calling Doom (who went under various other monikers) “one of rap’s most elusive, innovative, and tragic figures,” Astra House said the book, which is slated for 2024, will offer the definitive account of his life, framed by his “musical legacy.” William LoTurco at LoTurco Literary brokered the deal.

Ace Takes Beagle Novellas

Bestselling fantasy author Peter S. Beagle sold The Way Home, a collection of novellas, to Jessica Wade at Ace Books. The collection is set in the world of The Last Unicorn, one of the author’s best-known titles, and the North American rights deal was handled by Howard Morhaim at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. The Way Home will be released in February 2023, after a 2022 reissue of The Last Unicorn. It will feature the previously published novella “Two Hearts” (from 2006), as well as a new novella “Sooz,” which Ace said follows “the narrator from ‘Two Hearts’ on a further journey.”

Climo Gets ‘Happy’ at Flatiron

Sydney Jeon at Flatiron Books acquired the adult gift book I’m So Happy You’re Here by Liz Climo. The bestselling author and illustrator was represented by Kathleen Ortiz at KO Media (Oritz sold the book while at her previous firm, New Leaf Literary & Media). The book, set for October, offers “a reminder that we’re loved,” Ortiz said, with Climo “delivering a dose of warmth.”