Grove Buys Booker Longlistee
In Ascension by Scottish author Martin MacInnes was acquired by Morgan Entrekin at Grove Atlantic. The novel, recently longlisted for the Booker Prize, was published in the U.K. earlier this year; Grove plans to release a paperback edition in February 2024. David Forrer at InkWell Management brokered the North American rights agreement. The novel has been compared to works by writers such as Emily St. John Mandel and Colson Whitehead. It follows, Grove explained, “a young female microbiologist named Leigh who is investigating an unfathomable deep vent in the ocean floor, leading her on a journey that will encompass the full trajectory of the cosmos and the passage of a single human life.” The publisher elaborated that the book is a “deeply inquisitive epic that reaches outward to confront the greatest questions of existence.”
Stage’s ‘Hanna’ Lands at T&M
Liz Pearsons at Thomas & Mercer bought world English rights to Zoje Stage’s Dear Hanna from Stephen Barbara at InkWell Management. The August 2024–slated novel, Barbara said, is a “a sequel/companion” to the author’s 2018 bestseller Baby Teeth; in it, the title character has grown up and “is dealing with her stepdaughter’s bad decisions and the inevitable—and possibly fatal—repercussions.”
Cross-Smith Moves Houses
Goodbye Earl author Leesa Cross-Smith sold As You Wish, at auction, to Tiny Reparations Books. (She was previously published by Grand Central.) The spring 2025–slated novel, per the Penguin Random House imprint, is a “K-drama-inspired” work about three African American women who become au pairs to wealthy families in Korea and must “confront their innermost desires after wishing on a mystical stack of rocks under the light of a full moon.” Lashanda Anakwah acquired North American rights to the book from Kerry D’Agostino at Curtis Brown.
Podcaster Ross Upsets Nelson
In a world rights agreement, Nelson Books’ Andrew Stoddard acquired two books by podcaster, pastor, and social media influencer Tim Ross. Ross is host of the podcast The Basement with Tim Ross (which dubs itself as a show that “sits at the intersection of faith and humanity”), and will reimagine his 2020 indie bestseller Upset the World for the first book under contract. Nelson said the title “aims to empower readers to upset the monotony of the mundane and enter into the powerful, authentic, upside down life of the Kingdom of God.” Curtis Wallace at the Law Office of Curtis W. Wallace, PC, represented Ross.
Green Sells Debut Fic to Viking
Lauren Aliza Green sold her debut novel, The World After Alice, to Viking. Allison Lorentzen took North American rights to the book from Jamie Carr at the Book Group. The novel, Viking said, follows “two families reunited for an unexpected wedding weekend 12 years after a tragedy upended their lives.” Green is the author of the poetry collection A Great Dark House and is a graduate of the Michener Center. The World After Alice is set for July 2024.
Gottlieb Goes to S&G
For Spiegel & Grau, Julie Grau took North American rights to Eli Gottlieb’s nonfiction work, (Best Boy) Sex on the Spectrum. The book, S&G said, “explores the taboo subject of sexuality in the neurodivergent community” and is framed by the author’s experience helping his adult brother, who’s been institutionalized most of his life, “fulfill a lifelong wish to experience intimacy.” Elaborating on the book, an S&G spokesperson said the title is a reported work “informed by the author and his brother’s personal story.” Betsy Lerner at Dunow, Carlson & Lerner represented Gottlieb.
