Holt Takes Mantel Memoir

Henry Holt v-p and executive editor Tim Duggan acquired North American rights to A Memoir of My Former Self: A Life in Writing by Hilary Mantel. The bestselling and critically acclaimed author, who died in 2022, is best known for her Wolf Hall trilogy; the first two books in the series won the Booker Prize. According to Holt, the memoir features pieces from the 1980s to shortly before Mantel’s death and “invites readers into the mind and world of Hilary Mantel, sharply observed and beautifully rendered.” Bill Hamilton of A.M. Heath Agency handled the sale. The book will be published in the U.S. by Holt on October 24 and in the U.K. by John Murray Publishers on October 19.

Atria Captures ‘Spirits’

Atria Books editor-in-chief Peter Borland acquired North American English-language rights from Trident Media Group v-p Mark Gottlieb to John A. McDermott’s The Direction of Rented Spirits. McDermott is a creative writing and literature professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. His debut novel, Gottlieb said, “is set amidst the glitz and glamour of a party hosted by Alfred Hitchcock, where two young cousins—one alive, one a ghost—forge an unlikely bond, unraveling family secrets and discovering how to change their destinies.” The book is slated for a March 2025 publication.

‘Monsters’ March to McElderry

As part of a six-figure, two-book deal for North American rights, Sarah McCabe at Margaret K. McElderry acquired A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury (the Blood Like duology, Delicious Monsters). Kristy Hunter at the Knight Agency negotiated the deal. She called A Mastery of Monsters “a YA dark academia fantasy in which a girl must join a secret society that may be responsible for the disappearance of her brother,” adding: “To infiltrate their ranks, she agrees to team up with a boy who is only months away from becoming a flesh-eating monster—and in exchange, she has to win a deadly competition to master control of his monstrosity.” Publication is planned for spring 2025.

Muschett Takes Vineyard Cookbook

In a deal brokered by Adriana Stimola at the Stimola Literary Studio, Rizzoli USA’s James Muschett took world rights to Julia Blanter’s Island Home: Recipes and Stories from Martha’s Vineyard, a collection of 100 recipes, with photographs by Jocelyn Filley. The cookbook, Stimola explained, “takes readers on a journey across the Vineyard, with appetizers, entrées, desserts, and drinks from the restaurants, farms, fishermen, bakers, and food artisans that make the Island’s food culture so special.” Publication is set for spring 2025.


Self-Pub Hit to Dial

Emma Caruso at Dial Press acquired North American rights to Lyla Sage’s Done & Dusted, as well as three other books in the author’s Rebel Blue Ranch series. Sage had previously self-published Done & Dusted, which, helped by TikTok, became a bestseller. According to Dial, Done & Dusted is about a professional horse racer “who returns to her hometown after an accident leaves her with PTSD, only to stumble upon her brother’s best friend, a reformed bad boy who just might be the key to her healing.” Jessica Watterson at Sandra Dijkstra Literary Agency represented Caruso. Done & Dusted will be released by the Penguin Random House imprint in October.


With this column, PW begins transitioning its Deals coverage from longtime columnist Rachel Deahl, who is now in the new role of director of branded content. A new Deals columnist will be named in the coming weeks. In the interim, deal items can be sent to deals@publishersweekly.com.