Trade Paperback Gets Hotter

A spate of recent deals provides further proof that the trade paperback original format is an increasingly attractive option for publishers and agents—even for hotly contested material. Last week, two debuts were acquired for publication as paperback originals. First, Terry Karten at Harper beat two other bidders for 29-year-old Lydia Peelle's collection of stories, Reasons for and Advantages of Breathing, in an auction conducted by Valerie Borchardt; Karten took North American rights. Peelle, who lives in Nashville, has been featured in Best New American Voices, and her stories have won an O. Henry Prize and a Pushcart. Harper will publish as a lead original Perennial paperback in summer 2009.

In another debut fiction deal, Hyperion executive editor Leslie Wells bought North American rights to Greg Ames's Buffalo Lockjaw in a deal with Scott Moyers at Wylie. The novel is about a young man trying to decide how to jump start his life while dealing with aging, ill parents. Hyperion will publish as a paperback original in April 2009.

Another Hyperion title that will begin in trade paperback is Give a Little, Get a Lot: The Power of Affordable Donations by Wendy Smith. Ellen Archer and Barbara Jones bought North American rights from Marly Rusoff. In this guide, Smith will show readers how to improve their lives, families and communities through small cash donations. Smith has worked in philanthropy for more than 20 years and is currently director of foundation and government relations at Building with Books. Publication is set for June 2009.