Deal of the Week
‘Sh*tty Media Men’ Creator to Scribner Moira Donegan, creator of the “Shitty Media Men” list, sold a primer on sexual harassment to Scribner at auction. Kathy Belden took North American rights to the book, which the publisher described as “the perfect introduction to the political and moral challenges of the #MeToo movement.” Donegan created the crowdsourced Google spreadsheet that came to be known as Shitty Media Men—it featured the names of men in the media industry, detailing their alleged acts of sexual harassment and/or assault—and is currently being sued for defamation by author Stephen Elliott. (Elliott was on the list.) Monika Woods at Curtis Brown represented Donegan.
Saunders’s ‘Masterclass’ to Random Man Booker winner George Saunders sold Masterclass to Random House; the publisher said the book "draws on the author’s two decades” of teaching Russian authors to MFA students. Esther Newberg at ICM Partners represented Saunders in the world rights agreement with Andy Ward. RH elaborated that the book, subtitled Reading the Russians, is “a kind of Story Theory seminar in book form” that asks “how do great stories work, how do you write them, and what are their political and moral implications?"
Keneally Explores 'Science' at Atria Author of Schindler’s List, Thomas Keneally, sold The Book of Science and Antiquities. Peter Borland at Atria Books nabbed U.S. and Canadian rights to the book from Amanda Urban at ICM Partners. The S&S division said the novel features two narrators: “the first human known to have lived in Australia 42,000 years ago” and a present-day documentary filmmaker researching the discovery of the ancient man’s remains.
Anappara’s ‘Djinn’ Lands at RH Debut author Deepa Anappara’s Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line sold in a North American rights deal to Caitlin McKenna at Random House. McKenna preempted the book, after reading it overnight while in London, from Peter Straus at Rogers, Coleridge & White. Set outside a sprawling Indian city, the novel, which RH said "set all of London publishing abuzz," is based on a true story. It follows three children trying to find out who has been snatching kids from the settlement where they live.
Portfolio Buys Cohan’s GE Book The bestselling author of House of Cards, William D. Cohan, closed a world rights agreement with Portfolio for a book about the rise and fall of General Electric. Joy Harris, who has an eponymous shingle, represented Cohan in the deal with Adrian Zackheim. Calling Cohan “one of the great chroniclers of American capitalism,” Zackheim said the book will explore the “GE tragedy,” examining how one of the most profitable companies became emblematic of corporate decline.
D’day Kids Gets Starry with Marj In a six-figure, 12-book deal, Frances Gilbert at Doubleday Books for Young Readers bought world rights to a series of Zodiac-themed board books by debut author-illustrator Roxy Marj. The titles are all set to publish in 2020 and will, per Doubleday, “share gentle thoughts about the characteristics of a child born under each star sign.” Marj, who was represented by Erica Rand Silverman at Stimola Literary Studio, has a background in product design and has worked for companies such as Crate & Barrel.
Dayton Prize Winner to HMH Winner of this year’s Dayton Literary Peace Prize Hala Alyan sold The Arsonists’ City, in a rumored six-figure deal, to Lauren Wein at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The sophomore novel is, Wein said, about “a fractured family returning to Beirut from various locales to sell their ancestral home, tracing their allegiances and betrayals across decades and continents.” Alyan, who grew up in the Middle East and has a doctorate in psychology, divides her time between teaching (at NYU and CUNY) and private practice. She was represented by Michelle Tessler at the Tessler Agency.
Little A Moves Into Conn’s ‘Shadow’ For Amazon’s Little A imprint, Hafizah Geter bought North American rights to Bobi Conn’s debut memoir In the Shadow of the Valley from Adriann Ranta Zurhellen at Foundry Literary + Media. Little A, comparing the book to titles like White Trash, said it “offers a beautifully written examination of class, poverty, gender, and rural America for the #MeToo generation” and “examines what both the Left and Right have gotten wrong about the plight of Americans who live beyond cities and below the poverty line.” Conn grew up in rural Kentucky.
Behind the Deal
The
story behind the intermingled publication of Beautiful Boy and Tweak
is one Amanda Urban recalls well. The ICM Partners agent, who sold both
memoirs, has a personal connection to both authors: the father-son pair of
David and Nic Sheff. The books, which are the basis of the movie Beautiful
Boy (released earlier this month), almost never came to be. David Sheff,
a journalist, is a longtime friend of Urban’s, so she was well-versed on Nic’s
struggle with addiction. When David proposed writing a book about raising Nic,
Urban thought a work delving into how addiction affects families would be
unique. Editors disagreed. Until Sheff published a piece in the New York
Times Magazine, “My Addicted Son” (2005), which went viral. Then, the big
houses came calling. While fielding requests for David, Urban was contacted by
a children’s editor at S&S who wanted a book by Nic. Both memoirs were
published in 2008. Although the movie has been nearly a decade in the making,
Urban thinks the wait has paid off. “When you look at the addiction problem in
America right now,” she noted, the timing of the film seems, well, prescient.
International
- Francine
Toon, an editor at Sceptre, sold a buzzed-about debut gothic
thriller called Pine to Doubleday Ireland (for U.K. and Commonwealth
rights). The book, set in the Scottish Highlands, was sold by Emma
Paterson at Aitken Alexander. [The Bookseller].
- French house Éditions de L’Iconoclaste
is reporting brisk sales for Adeline Dieudonne’s La wraie vie
(in English, Real Life). Having sold 80,000 copies in France since
its August release, the publisher said auctions have now closed in, among
other countries, Italy and Spain. The publisher called the title a
“dramatic coming-of-age novel.” [PW]
- U.K.
publisher HQ has bought the debut by Luan Goldie, who won last
year's Cost Award. [The Bookseller]
Page to Screen
- Liane
Moriarty's novel The Hypnotist's Love Story,
about a hypnotherapist feeling hopeful about her new boyfriend after being
unlucky in love, has been optioned for series development by ABC. Heather
Graham is attached to star. [Deadline]
- Stephen
King sold the option to one of his short stories,
"Stationary Bike," to a group of Welsh teenagers in film school,
for $1. [L.A. Times]
The industry made small improvements on such hot-button issues as
pay disparity and workforce diversification in 2017—but sexual harassment
remains an issue. more
Bestselling author Sarah Dessen has left her longtime publisher,
Viking, and will publish her newest novel, 'The Rest of the Story,' with
HarperCollins Children’s Books, under the Balzer + Bray imprint. more
Peachtree has announced that Trustbridge has acquired the
Atlanta-based children's book publisher. Margaret Quinlin will continue to
serve as president and publisher. more
HBG has moved Hachette Books into the Perseus Books Group and
consolidated the publishing teams of FaithWords and Worthy in the company's
Nashville division. The moves have resulted in an unspecified number or
layoffs, including that of Hachette Books publisher Mauro DiPreta. more
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More News
JobZone
We hope you enjoy this week's issue and wanted to let you know
that, in observance of Thanksgiving next week, there will not be an issue on
November 24th. We'll be back in your inbox, as usual, on December 1st. To all
our American readers: happy holidays! Gobble gobble.
Deal of the Week
Simone’s ‘Child’ Runs to Hachette Lisa Simone, daughter of jazz singer Nina Simone, sold world rights to her memoir, tentatively titled Child In Me, to Krishan Trotman at Hachette Books. Lisa, a performer in her own right—she has released a number of CDs and appeared on Broadway in hits such as Rent and Aida—chronicles her tumultuous childhood and relationship with her mother, as well as the path she forged to build her own career. Jason Anthony at Massie & McQuilkin, who represented Simone, said the book will chronicle how she “did not experience the privilege and open doors one might expect” but nonetheless managed to “carve her own path... after tumultuous teen years of nomadic existence.” Simone is writing the book with journalist Samantha Marshall.
Disney Channel Star to Crown Star of such Disney Channel shows as Bunk’d and Jessie, Skai Jackson sold Reach for the Skai to Crown for six figures at auction. The middle grade book, subtitled How to Inspire, Empower and Clapback, will, Crown said, explore the author’s “lessons on life and rise to stardom, as well as the negative experiences that sometimes come with living in the spotlight.” Samantha Gentry took world rights to the book, slated for fall 2019, from Alyssa Reuben at the Paradigm Talent Agency. Jackson, known as an activist as well as an actress, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in 2016.
Dutton Checks Beckman’s ‘Math’ In a North American rights acquisition, Stephen Morrow at Dutton bought Milo Beckman’s Math Without Numbers. The author is a journalist for FiveThirtyEight and, per Dutton, was named one of Harvard’s “Fifteen Most Interesting Seniors” in 2015. Also a crossword puzzle maker for the New York Times, Beckman’s book will offer, Dutton went on, a “conversational guide to the very highest levels of abstract mathematics.” Jay Mandel at William Morris Endeavor sold the title, which is set for fall 2020.
Wasserman Gets ‘Paid’ at Gallery Founder of the organization Ladies Get Paid, Claire Wasserman sold a same-titled book to Karyn Marcus at Gallery. The personal finance title will, the Simon & Schuster imprint explained, be “an empowering guide that provides women real tools and insight to strategically navigate the workplace, achieve career success, and become leaders at their organizations.” Marcus preempted North American rights to the book, set for spring 2020, from Alexandra Machinist at ICM Partners. Ladies Get Paid (the group, not the book) has, Gallery said, roughly 30,000 members.
Win a Book Placement in a Luxury Hotel Enter for a chance to win placement of your book in the hotel rooms at one of Bedside Reading's Luxury Hotel Partners, which includes national print, online, and social media promotions. (Sponsored) Enter Here
HC Nabs Binbaum’s ‘Dr.’ HarperCollins' Terry Karten took U.S. rights to Daniel Birnbaum’s Dr. B. The debut dutch historical novel, which Elisabet Brännström at Bonnier Rights sold, grew out of a discovery the author made in his attic: that of a box of letters written by his grandfather. Bonnier explained that, expanding on what was found in the letters, the book presents “a larger-than-life true story of a hitherto unknown WWII drama, played out in the world of book publishing, and featuring emigres, spies and diplomates in 1940s Stockholm.” (Elaborating on the publishing element of the story, Bonnier said that the author’s grandfather, Immanuel Birnbaum, “worked at exile publishing house Behrmeann-Fischer in Sweden during the second World War.”) The book, Bonnier added, has drawn comparisons to Lara Prescott’s forthcoming We Were Never Here (which Knopf bought for seven figures in June); it has also sold to publishers in, among other countries, Germany, Italy, and the U.K.
Alexander ‘Volunteers’ for Algonquin In a world rights acquisition, Betsy Gleick at Algonquin bought Jerad W. Alexander’s memoir Volunteers at auction. Alexander is a former U.S. Marine and current NYU graduate student in the school’s literary reportage program. (He’s set to finish the program in 2020.) The book, subtitled A Memoir of War, Manhood, and America, is, Gleick said, a “sharply observed coming-of-age narrative about growing up on military bases in the U.S. and abroad” and how “the soldier is taken as the enduring ideal of American masculinity.” Alexander was represented by Elias Altman at Massie & McQuilkin.
Wiggs Gets Seven Figures at Morrow Susan Wiggs inked a new three-book, seven-figure, world rights deal with her current publisher, William Morrow. Rachel Kahan brokered the agreement with Meg Ruley and Annelise Robey at the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Wiggs, a major bestseller, has written over 60 titles and is published in 30 languages. She also recently closed a TV development deal, for her Lakeshore Chronicles series, with production company The Cartel (Christmas Connection); this was handled by Lucy Stille at APA.
Behind the Deal
Montlake
Inks Trio of Authors to 7-Fig Deals After a flurry of seven-figure deal action at Amazon Publishing’s Thomas & Mercer unit—it recently re-upped Barry Eisler and T.R. Ragan to multi-title deals for seven figures each—Montlake Romance is getting in on the action. Amazon Publishing’s romance imprint has just closed three seven-figure agreements with Catherine Bybee (pictured), Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. Bybee, with Montlake since 2012, signed with senior editor Maria Gomez to pen five books that will launch a new series. Jane Dystel at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret handled the world rights deal. Editorial director Anh Schluep bought four tites by Leigh that will be part of a new suspense series; Leigh was represented by Jill Marsal at Marsal & Lyon. Schluep also closed the Elliot deal, contracting her to write four romantic suspense titles set to launch a new suspense series; Elliot was represented by Meg Ruley at the Jane Rotrosen Agency.
International
- Marco
Balzano’s Resto qui (I’m Staying Here), published
in Italy earlier this year, sold at auction to Neil Belton at Head of Zeus
in the U.K. Piergiorgio Nicolazzini, who has an eponymous shingle, handled
the sale. The agency said the novel follows the people of the village of
Curon, who “fought for years against war and devastation [to ensure] their
beloved land [was not] torn apart.” [PW]
- James Meek’s
nonfiction work about Brexit, Dreams of Leaving and Remaining,
has been acquired by Leo Hollis at Verso Books in the U.K. The publisher,
which took world English rights to the title, called it a “masterly
portrait of an anxious nation;” it plans to publish in March 2019. [The
Bookseller]
- The Women
in Black, originally published in 1993, sold
during the recent Frankfurt Book Fair to Albin Michel (France) and
Garzanti (Italy). Text Publishing in Australia controls rights to the
book, by Madeline St John, and republished it in 2009 (after it
went out of print in 2006). It's about, per the PW review, "the
loneliness and ennui of three department store employees." A film
based on the book was recently released in Australia. [PW]
- The Women I
Think About At Night by Mia Kankimäki sold to
Orlando in the Netherlands. There are also offers in on the book from
publishers in the U.S. and Germany. Published earlier this year by Finnish
house Otava, the book, a blend of memoir and travelogue, follows a woman
who travels to the homes of female historical figures for inspiration on
living a better life. Elina Ahlback Literary controls all rights to the
title. [PW]
- A novel
about a magical piece of wood that figures in peoples lives
over the span of a century, called Cursed Wood, has sold to
btb/Luchterland in Germany. De Bezige Bij in the Netherlands controls all
rights to the title, by Johan de Boose, and published it in
September. [PW]
- Another hot
book for De Bezige Bij is The Burgundians by Bart Van
Loo, which will be published in January and recently sold to House of
Zeus in the U.K. and C.H. Beck Verlag in Germany. The history title
explores the Burgundians--a tribe that lived in what is now Poland during
the Roman Empire--from their beginning as a Germanic group, to the 15th
century, when their power waned. [PW]
Page to Screen
- In a
seven-figure deal, Warner Bros. optioned Reed King’s sf
novel FKA USA (Flatiron Books, June 2019). Inkwell Management’s Stephen
Barbara, who sold the book in Dec. 2016, pitched it as “Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Galaxy for the American end of times.” [Deadline]
- Samira Ahmed’s
Internment (Little, Brown, Mar. 2019) has been
optioned by the Gotham Group and Chariot Entertainment. Kim Yau did the
sale for Eric Smith at P.S. Literary. The agency said the near-future YA
depicts a world where “Muslim Americans are forced into an internment
camp, and a 17-year-old must fight against Islamaphobia.” [PW]
- The sci-fi novel The One (Hanover Square
Press, Feb.), by John Mars, is being adapted into a
Netflix series. The streaming company ordered 10 episodes based on the
book which, the publisher said, is "set five minutes in the future,
in a world where a DNA test can find your perfect partner." [PW]
- The
Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman is writing an
adaptation of Marcus Sakey's bestselling Brilliance trilogy (Thomas
& Mercer) with Shane Salerno and The Story Factory as producers. The
book series, which has sold 2 million copies, is being shopped by The
Story Factory. [Deadline]
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September Bookstore Sales Fell 0.9% Bookstore sales fell 0.9% in September compared, compared to the same period a year ago, according to a preliminary estimate released by the U.S. Census Bureau. For the first nine months of the year, sales were down 0.6%. more »
AWP Leaders, Former Conference Director Exchange Public Barbs
After former AWP conference director Christian Teresi wrote an essay that leveled a host of charges against the organization, the AWP board fired back, claiming the organization is in much better shape than it was six months ago. more »
Emma Ledbetter Joins Abrams Children's Books Emma Ledbetter will be joining Abrams as editorial director, picture books, effective November 26. Most recently she was senior editor at Atheneum Books for Young Readers. more »
2019 Robert F. Kennedy Book & Journalism Awards Entries must have been published or broadcast in the United States in 2018. An entry fee of $75 is required for all entries, excluding student journalism award entries. Deadline for all awards: February 1, 2019. (Sponsored) Learn More »
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Editor,
Professional/Clinical Publishing - American Academy of Pediatrics - Itasca,
IL.
Accountant - Bonnier Publishing USA - New York, NY. Production Editor - HarperCollins - New York. Marketing & Publicity Manager - The Monacelli Press - New York, NY. Accounting Clerk - Guilford Press - New York, NY. |
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JOB MOVES
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Amanda Lang is being promoted to senior
publicity manager at Simon & Schuster.
Trinity McFadden, formerly
senior manager of publicity at Zondervan academic, church ministry, and
reflective books and Zondervan and Thomas Nelson Bibles, has joined Zondervan
trade books as senior manager of public relations and can be contacted at trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com.
Kayin Patton has joined BookBub as
account coordinator for the publisher relations team.
Wade Lucas, formerly senior agent
director at Penguin Random House, has joined BookBub as international account
manager and can be contacted at wade@bookbub.com.
Annie Stone has been promoted to
publisher relations lead at BookBub and can be contacted at annie.stone@bookbub.com.
2018 National Book Awards for Young People's Literature in Photos
Our photographer caught up with the six finalists for the Young People’s Literature prize, along with their editors, during Wednesday's ceremony, and was also on hand to capture the award announcement. more » »
Shakti Gawain, New World Library Cofounder, Dies at 70 The New World Library cofounder and author of 'Creative Visualization' died on November 11. more » »
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News Briefs
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Jasanoff Wins 2018 Cundhill Prize
The Harvard professor Maya Jasanoff has won the 2018 Cundill History Prize for 'The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World.' more » »
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BOOKSTORE NEWS
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Texas
Booksellers Vote to Unionize: Some 80 employees at BookPeople
in Austin have voted to unionize with OPEIU Local 277. They are seeking more
benefits.
B&N Opens
Prototype Store in New Jersey: Barnes & Noble has opened
another prototype store, this time in Hackensack.
Boston
Bookstore Aids In-Need Youth: More Than Words bookstore
employs people who are homeless, in foster care, or involved in the court
system.
Beijing's Boom
in Bookstore Openings: October Time Bookstore is the latest of
80 new bookstores that have opened in the city in the past decade.
La Hune
Bookstore Reopens in Paris: The famous Left Bank bookstore has
reopened after a year of refurbishment following a fire a year ago.
Click here
to join the bookselling conversation in PW's Facebook group for
booksellers.
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THE ROUNDUP
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What Critics
Said About 'Becoming': Book critics didn’t sweat Michelle
Obama's prose style. They were just thirsty for "No-Drama Obama."
Netflix Will
Adapt 'Rebecca': Netflix has announced that they will adapt
Daphne Du Mauier’s classic gothic novel, with Armie Hammer and Lily James set
to star.
70 Philosophy
Books Everyone Should Read: From Ancient Greece to
postmodernism, this list has you covered.
The Long-Lived
'Gashlycrumb Tinies': E is for Edward Gorey, who wrote a gory
masterpiece. Here's how it became recognized as just that.
In Defense of
Puns: From the beginning, punning has been considered the
lowest form of wit—when, in fact, it is among the highest.
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PW Bestsellers
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Top 10 Overall Bestseller List 'Whose Boat Is This Boat?: Comments That Don't Help in the Aftermath of a Hurricane' by the Staff of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is #1 on our overall list this week. See the full list » »
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PW Daily Review of the Day
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'Bold and Brave: Ten
Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote' by Kirsten Gillibrand and illustrated
by Maira Kalman "Making her children’s book debut, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand offers a personal history of the strong women in her family (her roller-skating grandmother, her karate black-belt mother), then introduces 10 notable suffragists spanning eras, socioeconomic backgrounds, and professions." more » »
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SHELFTALKER
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The Power of Silence
Cynthia Compton
A children’s bookseller reflects on those customers who feel
strongly but respond quietly.
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PICTURE OF THE DAY
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'Bad Blood,' 2018's Best Business Book This year's Financial Times/McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award went to John Carreyrou, author of the book 'Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup' (Knopf) this past Monday in London. Here, Carreyrou signs copies of his book.
Courtesy Fortier Public Relations
Samantha Harvey's novel 'The Western Wind' is
set in 1491 in England. Her plot hinged on a private confession box. One
problem: private confession boxes didn't exist. Here's how she solved the
puzzle. more
PW Picks: Books of the Week,
November 19, 2018 This week: Amparo Dávila's creepy story collection, plus the lies women tell about sex—and the truths they reveal. more
Win Five Great Thrillers &
Mysteries From Oceanview Publishing! Enter for your chance to win five spine-chilling thrillers and mysteries from Oceanview Publishing, and a Starbucks gift card. (Sponsored) Enter Here
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The PW Publishing Industry Salary
Survey, 2018 86% of respondents to PW’s 2017 salary and jobs survey were white, down 1 percentage point from 2016. Additionally: the average salary for men who responded to the survey was $87,000, compared to $60,000 for women. more
2018 National Book Award Winners Sigrid Nunez, Yoko Tawada, Margaret Mitsutani, Jeffrey C. Stewart, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Justin Phillip Reed won awards this year. more
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Hey, Publishers: Get Your Event
Staffing Right A publicist argues that publishers need to carefully consider which people they send to fan conventions. more
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PW Insider: 2018 National Book
Awards in Context This year's National Book Awards were unique for a number of reasons. PW editors John Maher and Gabe Habash take us inside this year's ceremony, awards, and the books themselves.
This Week's Bestsellers
Hardcover Nonfiction
1
Whose Boat Is This Boat?: Comments That Don't Help in the
Aftermath of a Hurricane
The Staff of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Author
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2
Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave
Joanna Gaines, Author
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3
Rachel Hollis, Author
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4
Ina Garten, Author
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5
Killing the SS
Bill O'Reilly, Author
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Hardcover Fiction
1
Lee Child, Author
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2
John Grisham, Author
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3
Liane Moriarty, Author
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4
Nicholas Sparks, Author
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5
Michael Connelly, Author
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 Acevedo, Nunez, Reed, Stewart, and Tawada/Mitsutani Win 2018 National
Book Awards At the 69th National Book Awards, held, as has become tradition, at Cipriani Wall Street in lower Manhattan this Wednesday night, it did not take long for the presenters to crack subtle jokes alluding to the cultural significance of the number of this year's awards, even as the political fervor underpinning the past few ceremonies remained. more »  Portfolio to Launch New Imprint, Acquires New Book On Kavanaugh
Author Simon Sinek will launch a new imprint, Optimism Press, under the auspices of his longtime publisher, Portfolio, which just acquired rights to a new book on the early years of Associate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. more »  Lependorf Passes the Torch to Gannon at Annual CLMP Gala
After 17 years as executive director of CLMP, Jeffrey Lependorf turned over the leadership of the organization to Mary Gannon at its annual gala. more »  Celebrating 'Jack (Not Jackie!)' during #TransWeek Published in partnership with GLAAD, ‘Jack (Not Jackie)’ is a heartwarming, gentle conversation starter about gender identity and gender expression, but more importantly it is a story about love and wholeheartedly accepting people for who they are. A portion of the proceeds will go to accelerating LGBTQ acceptance. (Sponsored) More » 
Ian Reilly has been promoted to v-p,
demand planning and reprint production at Simon & Schuster Children's
Publishing.
Alex Arnold, formerly editor at
Katherine Tegen Books, is joining Quirk Books as senior editor on December 6,
and will focus on YA, middle-grade, and picture books.
Jenna Stempel-Lobell has been
promoted to design manager at HarperCollins Children's Books.
Caroline Abbey has been promoted from
senior editor to editorial director at Random House Books for Young Readers.
 Bringing the 2018 National Book Awards to Teen Readers The five finalists for the 2018 National Book Award for Young People's Literature spoke with nearly 500 students from New York City schools at the 92nd Street Y on Tuesday, on the eve of the book award ceremony. more » »  100th Anniversary Plans for Children's Book Week Kick into High Gear
In anticipation of the centennial observance of Children's Book Week, the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader have begun to lay out plans for a year-long campaign to commemorate the national literacy initiative. more » »  Call for Information: Winter Institute Supplement For a feature on Winter Institute 14, publishers are asked to send a list of the authors they're bringing to the conference to Judith Rosen (jrosen@publishersweekly.com). For each author, include title, publisher, pub month, price, and why you’re excited about the book (75 words max direct quote, attributed to a specific editor or publicist), the opening sentence, plus publicity and marketing plans, including size of first printing. For children’s titles, please indicate the category (picture book, middle grade, or YA) and the age group. more » »  Win a Copy of 'Brothers in Valor'! A vivid portrait of the 89 African-American soldiers who carried the flag of freedom and how they reshaped the very definition of courage under fire during some of the most harrowing moments in United States military history. (Sponsored) Enter Here » »
Fain to Leave HBG for Gladwell Podcast Heather Fain will be leaving Hachette Book Group to pursue a new position as chief marketing officer at Pushkin Industries, the podcast company recently launched by Jacob Weisberg and Malcolm Gladwell. more » »
Oxford Word of the Year: 'Toxic'
The word has, the publisher said, "added more strings to its poisoned bow during 2018, becoming an intoxicating descriptor for the year’s most talked about topics." more » »
B&N Brings Back Signed Editions Program for Black Friday
More than 650,000 books, signed by authors including David Baldacci, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Rupi Kaur, and Adriana Trigiani will be available in Barnes & Noble stores next Friday. more » »
ABA Responds
to Amazon's HQ2: The American Booksellers Association has
protested “providing massive subsidies of public funds and tax incentives” to
the mega-corporation.
Books On How
to Deal With Wildfires: Three books to read for more
information on what is being done to stop wildfires and what it takes to
fight them.
Champaneri
Wins Immigrant Writing Prize: This year's Restless Books Prize
for New Immigrant Writing goes to Priyanka Champaneri for 'The City of Good
Death.'
Dostoevsky
Banned In Kuwait: The country's information ministry has
blacklisted 'The Brothers Karamazov' and other titles from entering a book
festival.
Aaron Sorkin's
'Mockingbird': How the prolific screenwriter behind 'The West
Wing' came to bring Harper Lee's classic American novel, 'To Kill a
Mockingbird,' to Broadway.
 Trade Paperback Bestseller List 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' by Heather Morris is the #1 title on PW's trade paperback bestseller list. See the full list » »
 'Insurrecto' by Gina
Apostol "Apostol fearlessly probes the long shadow of forgotten American imperialism in the Philippines in her ingenious novel of competing filmmakers." more » »
The Power of Silence Cynthia Compton
A children’s bookseller reflects on those customers who feel
strongly but respond quietly.
 Celebrating a Moon Palace Bestseller Author Resmaa Menakem's 'My Grandmother's Hands' (Central Recovery Press) is one of the year's bestselling books at the independent Moon Palace Books in Minneapolis. Pictured here (from l. to r.) are CRP's managing editor Valerie Killeen, Consortium rep Stuart Abraham, CRP's sales and marketing manager Patrick Hughes, and Moon Palace co-owner, Angela Schwesnedl, celebrating the book's success. Courtesy Central Recovery Press |
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In the Spotlight
 Elizabeth Acevedo Wins NBA for Young People's Literature
Upon receiving this year's National Book Award for Young People's Literature on Wednesday evening for her debut novel-in-verse, The Poet X, Elizabeth Acevedo expressed her gratitude to the children's publishing community and said, "Every single time I meet a reader who looks at me and says, ‘I have never seen my story until I read yours,’ I am reminded of why this matters." more   National Book Awards for Young People's Literature in Photos
Our photographer caught up with the six finalists for the Young People’s Literature prize, along with their editors, during Wednesday's ceremony, and was also on hand to capture the award announcement. more
In the News
 Emma Ledbetter Joins Abrams Children's Books Abrams has announced that Emma Ledbetter will be joining the company as editorial director, picture books, effective November 26. Ledbetter most recently served as senior editor at Simon & Schuster’s Atheneum Books for Young Readers imprint. more
Cover Reveal
 Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri Hit Upon Interactivity for Their Next
Book We spoke with author Adam Rubin and illustrator Daniel Salmieri, the collaborators behind the bestselling Dragons Love Tacos and its sequel, about their forthcoming picture book comedy, Give High Five, due out next April. Click through to read more about their new project, in our exclusive cover reveal. more
On the Scene
 On Tour with Markus Zusak Last month, Australian author Markus Zusak set out on a U.S. tour in celebration of the release of his new YA novel, Bridge of Clay, the highly anticipated follow-up to his 2006 novel, The Book Thief. Over the course of the tour, more than 3,000 fans joined Zusak for readings, signings, and more. Click through to see our selection of photo highlights. more
Literacy Report
 Children's Literacy Foundation This article is part of an occasional feature that focuses on literacy organizations and the work they do to promote reading within their communities. Founded in 1998, the Children's Literacy Foundation serves communities across rural Vermont and New Hampshire, with the goal of instilling a love of reading and writing in kids up to age 12. more
Q & A
 Traci Chee Two years after being named a PW Flying Start for her debut novel, The Reader, Traci Chee delivers the final book in the Sea of Ink and Gold series, The Storyteller, set in a world where reading and the written word are unheard of and the power of story reigns supreme. Chee spoke with PW about what she hopes readers will take from her series. Q: After spending so many years immersed in the world of the Sea of Ink and Gold, how does it feel to know the conclusion will soon be in the hands of readers? A: I have a mix of emotions. On the one hand, I’m really excited. I’ve had this ending in my head for 10 years. So, knowing that I’ve been lucky enough to write is really cool. At the same time, I’m nervous because it’s hard to end something in a way that’s satisfying. After spending so much time with characters, readers want certain things to happen. more
In Brief
 In Brief: November 15, 2018 This week, Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Jack Gantos share a stage; Elizabeth Verdick's characters are in tow; YA authors speak at the Portland Book Festival; and Sarai Gonzalez returns to her old school as a published author. more
Rights Report
 Nicole Sclama at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has
acquired Emily Bain Murphy's YA historical fantasy Splinters of
Scarlet, pitched as Downton Abbey with magic. The novel is set in
19th-century Copenhagen and follows an orphaned seamstress who goes to work
for a retired ballerina and uses her magic to investigate her father's
mysterious death while working for the same family years ago. Publication is
slated for spring 2020; Pete Knapp at Park Literary & Media negotiated
the deal for world English rights.  Amy Fitzgerald at Lerner/Carolrhoda has bought
Jerkbait author Mia Siegert's YA novel Somebody Told Me.
After an assault, bigender teen Aleks/Alexis goes to live with their uncle, a
Catholic priest, and must make difficult choices after discovering that they
can overhear parishioners' confessions through their bedroom wall.
Publication is planned for spring 2020; Travis Pennington at the Knight
Agency did the deal for world rights.  Lauren Knowles at Page Street has acquired
world rights to Naomi Hughes's Refraction, a YA science fiction
novel about a teen wrestling with obsessive compulsive disorder while working
as a black market mirror dealer in a world where reflections spawn deadly
cracks in the fabric of reality. Publication is set for fall 2019; Naomi
Davis at BookEnds brokered the deal.  Cassandra Pelham Fulton at Scholastic/Graphix
has bought, in a four-house auction, two Clementine Fox graphic novels by Leigh
Luna. The humorous debut middle-grade series features a cast of animal
friends who set off for a day of exploration at a mysterious local island;
what follows is an unexpected day of adventure, friendship, and lessons
learned. Book one is scheduled for 2020; Jen Linnan at Linnan Literary
Management negotiated the deal for world rights.  Alvina Ling at Little, Brown has acquired
world rights to Julie Abe's debut middle grade novel, Eva
Evergreen, Semi-Magical Witch, and a sequel. The book is set in a
Japanese-inspired world where a 12-year-old witch must travel to a seaside
town in order to complete her Adept Witch training, or risk losing her magic
forever. Publication is slated for spring 2020; Sarah Landis at Sterling Lord
Literistic did the deal.  Heather Alexander at Audible Originals has
bought world English audio rights to Night Magick, a middle grade
novel by Suri Rosen. A boy goes on a dangerous puzzle-solving quest
across Las Vegas, using his repertoire of tricks and illusions to evade
capture and to find a mysterious book of dark magic, which may hold the key
to his father's death. Publication is planned for summer 2019; Sarah Davies
at Greenhouse Literary brokered the deal.  Georgia McBride at Month9Books has acquired Hank's
Big Day author Evan Kuhlman (l.) and Heaven Is for Real and
Mulan II screenwriter Chris Parker's Bertie's Book of Spooky
Wonders, written as Ocelot Emerson. In the book, a precocious 11-year-old
girl who doesn't always make great choices brings trouble with her when she
and her mother move to a new town. The book will publish in fall 2019; Joe
Veltre at Gersh negotiated the deal for North American rights.  Gina Gagliano at Random House Graphic has
bought world rights to Kaeti Vandorn's early chapter book graphic
novel Crabapple Trouble, set in a magical world where everyone has a
fruit or vegetable for a head. In the story, Calla Crabapple's siblings
convince her to make an entry in the state fair; then must tackle her fears
about not being good enough, with the help of a friend and some fairies.
Publication is set for 2020; Vandorn is unagented.  Anne Schwartz at Random House/Schwartz &
Wade has acquired What Is a Refugee? written and illustrated by Elise
Gravel, which explores what it means to be a refugee in kid-friendly
terms and illustrations. Publication is scheduled for fall 2019; Lori Nowicki
at Painted Words did the deal for world rights, excluding French Canadian.  Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Paulsen has acquired Jia
Liu's debut author-illustrated picture book, I Don't Need Friends!,
featuring a self-absorbed little bird who makes all the wrong moves in his eagerness
to make friends, but figures out a way to turn things around. The book is
planned for spring 2021; Claire Easton represented Liu in the deal for world
rights.  Mabel Hsu at HarperCollins/Tegen has bought
author-illustrator Anya Glazer's The Story of Thesaurus, about
a synonym-using, book-loving dinosaur who must hide his passion for stories
from the rest of the dinosaurs. Publication is scheduled for summer 2020,
with a second, untitled picture book due in summer 2021; Alice Sutherland-Hawes
at Madeleine Milburn Limited brokered the two-book deal for world rights.  Rotem Moscovich at Disney-Hyperion has bought Marcy
Campbell's (l.) Something Good, a picture book in which a young
narrator describes the aftermath of “something” (readers are never told what)
being written on the girls' bathroom wall, first feeling her community may
never recover, but ultimately seeing it come together to heal and embrace a
new kind of school pride. Corinna Luyken will illustrate; publication
is slated for summer 2021. Steven Malk at Writers House represented both the
author and the illustrator in the deal for world rights.  Amy Novesky and Nina Gruener at Cameron Kids
have acquired world rights to The President Sang Amazing Grace by Zoe
Mulford, a picture book featuring the song of the same name, illustrated
by Jeff Scher. Adapted from the music video for the song performed by
Joan Baez, the book is about the day former president Obama sang “Amazing
Grace” to a grieving congregation and nation, following the mass shooting in
an historic black church in Charleston, S.C. Publication is set for fall
2019; the author and illustrator represented themselves.  Christy Cox at Little Bigfoot has bought world
English rights to Just Like Beverly, a picture book biography of
Beverly Cleary by Vicki Conrad (l.), illustrated by David Hohn.
Publication is slated for fall 2019; both the author and the illustrator were
unagented.
To see all of this week's deals, click here.
IN THE MEDIA
SHELFTALKER
Cynthia Compton The Power of Silence
A children’s bookseller reflects on those customers who feel
strongly but respond quietly.
more »
Kenny Brechner Celebrating The Amazon District
A bold solution meets the challenges made by a second Amazon
headquarters, which will span six states.
more »
Elizabeth Bluemle Finding Holiday Spirit Earlier Than Intended
Grandmothers like this longtime customer make me not resist
holiday prep quite so much.
more »
Meghan Dietsche Goel Looking Beyond Sherman Alexie
Author Cynthia Leitich Smith offers Indigenous intersections for
bookstore displays.
FEATURED
REVIEWS
 A Hug Is for Holding Me Lisa Wheeler, illus. by Lisk Feng. Appleseed, $14.99 (24p) ISBN 978-1-4197-2826-6 A father figure and his daughter meander through a springtime landscape. Using allusions to nature, Wheeler writes lyrically about what a hug can be. Detailed art by Feng has a retro feel. The ornamentlike abundance of insects, flowers, and other natural objects brushes this familial journey with magic. more  How Do I Love Thee? Jennifer Adams, illus. by Christopher Silas Neal. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-239444-6 Beginning with the famed opening line, “How do I love thee?/ Let me count the ways,” Adams restages Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet using modernized language. In clear, spacious scenes by Neal, children lie hand in hand beneath a tree, dash through the rain, and climb on a large stone lion. Adams includes brief biographical lines about Browning, as well as the original poem, which she honors through this accessible adaptation. more  Glimmer of Hope: How Tragedy Sparked a Movement The Founders of March for Our Lives. Razorbill/Dutton, $18 (208p) ISBN 978-1-984-83609-0 Through the collective voices of students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, following the events of Feb. 14, 2018, a rallying cry for fighting gun violence emerges. Chapters are told in rotating perspectives that represent multiple students and focus less on the shooting itself and more on their processing of the trauma. Through honest and stirring narratives, the contributors encourage readers to join a movement of monumental importance. more  Parkland Speaks: Survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas Share Their
Stories Edited by Sarah Lerner. Crown, $17.99 (192p) ISBN 978-1-9848-4999-1 This poignant and hard-hitting collection of poems, essays, and journal entries by students, accompanied by their artwork and photographs, reinforces the piercing and lingering effects of the Feb. 2018 shootings. Edited by Lerner, an English and journalism teacher and yearbook advisor at the school, this anthology has a spontaneous design, with some entries handwritten, driving home the missives’ deeply personal and heartfelt nature. more  We Say #NeverAgain: Reporting by the Parkland Student Journalists
Edited by Melissa Falkowski and Eric Garner. Crown, $17.99 (272p) ISBN 978-1-9848-4996-0 Falkowski and Garner, teachers of journalism and broadcasting, respectively, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, offer gripping introductions to this compelling anthology of student writing. Throughout, the students express appreciation for peers and faculty who exhibited courage during the shootings, and they stress the importance of journalistic integrity. more
TALES FROM THE
SLUSH PILE
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November 15, 2018
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Children's
Bookshelf
Editor: Diane Roback
Associate Editor: Emma Kantor
Digital Producer: Deirdre Coyle
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editorial questions about this e-newsletter to: childrensbooks@publishersweekly.comEditor: Diane Roback
Associate Editor: Emma Kantor
Digital Producer: Deirdre Coyle
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