DEAL OF THE WEEK

Del Rey Goes to the ‘Moon’ with Yambao

Del Rey Books’ Tricia Narwani preempted world English rights to Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon in a six-figure deal. Del Rey said the novel was pitched as “Erin Morgenstern meets Studio Ghibli” and follows “a woman who inherits a pawnshop in Tokyo where you can sell your regrets.” Dystel, Goderich & Bourret’s Amy Bishop represented Yambao (Love & Gravity).Water Moon is set to be released in fall 2024 or spring 2025.


Google’s Parker Sells ‘Arc’ to Holt

For Henry Holt, Serena Jones took world rights to Bend the Arc by Melonie Parker. The nonfiction debut by Google’s chief diversity officer was sold by Heather Jackson, who has an eponymous shingle. Jackson said the book blends “personal storytelling and lessons from Parker’s long career” in both aerospace and tech to “provide a blueprint for how we can cultivate authentic diversity in our communities, our organizations, and our companies.” Bend the Arc is slated for winter 2025.

Tinx Shifts for S&S

TikTok star Tinx sold North American rights to The Shift to Simon & Schuster. Tinx, whose given name is Christina Najja and who also hosts the SiriusXM call-in advice show It’s Me, Tinx, was represented by Pilar Queen and Byrd Leavell at United Talent Agency. The book is subtitled Change Your Perspective, Not Yourself and is slated for May. Emily Graff originally acquired The Shift but is no longer at S&S; Maria Mendez is now overseeing the title. The publisher described it as a guide to “a new way of thinking about life, love, happiness, and friendships—where dating evolves into an era of self-discovery and not just a means to an end.”

Ariel Thinks of Berkley

Berkley’s Esi Sogah bought world rights to two books by Myah Ariel at auction, including her debut, When I Think of You. The contemporary romance follows, the publisher said, “a young Black woman whose dreams of becoming a film producer are slowly dying, until a surprise opportunity comes her way—if she can stand working with her college ex, who’s now a Hollywood director.” BookEnds agent Kim Lionetti represented Ariel, who works at a research center dedicated to Black media and social justice at the University of Southern California. The book is set for spring 2024.


Counterpoint Buys Harrison Series

Counterpoint Press’s Dan Smetanka struck a five-book, North American rights agreement with Jamie Harrison. The purchase includes The River View, the latest in the author’s Blue Deer Montana series, which follows former sheriff turned PI Jules Clement; it also covers four backlist titles in the series. Dara Hyde at Hill Nadell Literary Agency represented Harrison, and The River View is slated for summer 2024. In it, Hyde said, Clement is hired by “a suicidal neighbor to follow an errant spouse,” putting him on a job that forces him “to confront the decades-old murder of his father.” The backlist titles—The Edge of the Crazies, Going Local, An Unfortunate Prairie Occurrence, and Blue Deer Thaw—are also set for a summer 2024 release.


Devereaux’s ‘Swan’ Swims to Mira

North American rights to the Blue Swan Duology by bestseller Jude Devereaux were acquired for six figures by Margaret Marbury at Mira. Devereaux, who’s written more than 40 novels, was represented in the two-book agreement by Robert Gottlieb at Trident Media Group. The romantic fantasy, Trident said, features “the fairy tales we know and love in a new perspective.” Nicole Brebner at Mira will edit the books, which are set for 2024.