PRH Lands Harari
Penguin Random House global CEO Nihar Malaviya has announced the acquisition of Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks from the Stone Age to AI by Yuval Noah Harari, author of the 2013 global blockbuster Sapiens. Harari negotiated the deal directly through his organization, Sapienship. Random House will publish in the U.S., with Andy Ward editing. PRH will also publish in Brazil, Canada, Germany, Portugal, Spain, the U.K., and Latin America. The publisher said the book explores how “the flow of information has made, and unmade, our world” from “the Stone Age, through the Bible, to early modern witch hunts, Stalinism, Nazism, and the resurgence of populism today.” Nexus is set for a September publication.
Graywolf Picks Up Yamashita’s Latest
Yuka Igarashi at Graywolf Press has acquired world English rights to Q27/Q28 by Karen Tei Yamashita, recipient of the National Book Foundation’s 2021 Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. Graywolf said the book “examines the impact of the Loyalty Questionnaire—distributed to 120,000 Japanese Americans evacuated to internment camps during WWII—within the larger story of Japanese migration to the U.S. and the formation of Asian American identity.” Yamashita was represented by Chris Fischbach. Publication is planned for winter 2026.
Heaphy Sings for Steerforth
In an exclusive submission, Chip Fleischer at Steerforth Press has acquired world rights to An Honest Reckoning: Charlottesville, January 6, and the Path Forward, by former U.S. attorney and MSNBC contributor Timothy Heaphy. Heaphy, who is unagented, was the lead investigator for the House Select Committee on the January 6 attack on the Capitol and for the City of Charlottesville, Va., on its handling of the Unite the Right rally of 2017. Steerforth said the book will include Heaphy’s personal story, his analyses of the two events, and suggestions “for repairing and sustaining American democracy.” The book is set for February 2025.
Harper Takes Adlington’s ‘Sweaters’
Sara Nelson at Harper has acquired North American rights to Four Red Sweaters by Lucy Adlington (The Dressmakers of Auschwitz). The deal was negotiated by Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio, on behalf of Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency. Hellegers said the nonfiction book tells the story of four women “who resisted, sacrificed, or survived the Nazi death camps through resilience, skills, and kindness, and with the help, in each case, of a fragile red sweater.” The book will be published in 2025.
Davidson, Dahl ‘Flourish’ at Avid
In her first acquisition for Avid Reader, Caroline Sutton has taken world rights to Born to Flourish: How to Thrive in a Challenging World by bestselling author Richard J. Davidson, founder of the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Healthy Minds, written with Tergar Foundation founder Cortland J. Dahl. Linda Loewenthal at the Loewenthal Company brokered the deal. Avid said the book is based on "decades of original research,” and will show that “flourishing, well-being, and resilience are skills” that can be sharpened through “simple forms of mental training.” Born to Flourish is set for spring 2026.
Shah Sells Two to Park Row
In a preempt, Nicole Luongo at Park Row Books has acquired world English rights to two books from The Direction of the Wind author Mansi Shah. Gordon Warnock at Fuse Literary brokered the deal. Park Row will publish the first title, A Good Indian Girl, this fall. The publisher said the novel tells the story of “a disgraced Indian American divorcée and former chef who spends a summer in Italy,” where she reckons with “a life-changing decision.” Details were not announced for the second book.
This article has been updated for clarity.
