DEAL OF THE WEEK

Lowry’s New Middle Grade Goes to HMH

Two-time Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry (The Giver) sold The Windeby Child to Margaret Raymo at HMH Books for Young Readers. The middle grade novel is, the publisher said, a “genre-blending” work that is told in four acts and “draws from the history of the titular bog body found preserved in Germany.” The book “explores the potential timelines the child may have lived.” Emily van Beek at Folio Literary Management handled the world rights agreement for Lowry. The Windeby Child is set for release in fall 2022.

 

FROM THE U.S.

Enola Holmes Finds New Home

The bestselling Enola Holmes Mystery series has a new publisher. Nancy Springer sold the next installment, featuring the teenage detective (and sister of Sherlock Holmes), to Keith Kahla at St. Martin’s Press’s Wednesday Books imprint. Jennifer Weltz at the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency handled the two-book, North American rights agreement for Springer. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche marks the first new title in the series, which had previously been published by Philomel, since the first installment was adapted as a Netflix film last year. Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche is slated for August 2021.

Morris’s ‘Sisters’ Migrate to St. Martin’s

Bestseller Heather Morris sold North American rights to her third novel, Three Sisters, to St. Martin’s Press. Sally Richardson and Jennifer Enderlin acquired the book from Kate Parkin at U.K. publisher Bonnier Books. The novel, set for a global release in October, continues to tell the true story begun in Morris’s 2018 bestseller, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. It follows three sisters who survived Auschwitz as teenagers and then made their way together to Israel. The novel is a tale “of survival, hope, and the triumphant forging of a new life in a new land.” Two of the sisters are still alive, St. Martin’s noted, adding that they “chose” Morris to tell their story.

Lake Union Picks Randel’s ‘Rose’

For six figures, Jodi Warshaw at Lake Union preempted world rights to Weina Dai Randel’s next two books. Rachel Ekstrom at Folio Literary Management, who represented the author, said that the first book under contract, The Last Rose of Shanghai, is a WWII-set novel about “love and redemption between a Chinese nightclub owner and a Jewish refugee set in Shanghai.” The Last Rose of Shanghai is slated for November 2021.


Mira Follows Caña’s ‘Rules’

After an auction, Natalie Caña sold three books, including her debut, to Mira. April Osborn took world English rights from Patrice Caldwell at New Leaf Literary Agency. The three romantic comedies follow the Chicago-based Vega family, who, Mira said, were pitched as a Latinx version of the clan in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The first book under contract, Rules of Engagement, is set for spring 2022. It’s about a couple forced together by their families who “hatch a plan to fake an engagement until they get what they want, and then ‘tragically’ break-up.”


Kann’s ‘Ace’ Is Dealt to Berkley

For Berkley, Kristine Swartz preempted world rights to The Ace Up His Sleeve by Claire Kann. The title is the author’s first LGBTQ rom-com and follows, the publisher said, “a Black, asexual woman who is secretly in love with her best friend, Malcolm.” Kann, whose 2018 debut Let’s Talk About Love was a Goodreads Choice Award nominee for best YA fiction, was represented by Carrie Pestritto at the Laura Dail Literary Agency in the two-book deal. The Ace Up His Sleeve is set for spring 2022.