DEAL OF THE WEEK

Jackson Gets ‘Lovely’ for Random House

World rights to Lovely One, a memoir by Ketanji Brown Jackson, were acquired by Jamia Wilson at Random House. Jackson is the first Black woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and RH said the book will examine the experiences that shaped her. Jackson will cover everything “from growing up in Miami with educator parents who broke barriers during the 1960s to honing her voice as an oratory champion, to performing improv and participating in pivotal student movements at Harvard, to balancing the joys and demands of marriage and motherhood while advancing in Big Law.” The book, which currently has no pub date, was sold by Deneen C. Howell at Williams & Connolly.

 

Robert’s ‘Waters’ Flow to Berkley

After an auction, Berkley’s Cindy Hwang and Kristine Swartz won world English rights to three books in a new fantasy romance series by Katee Robert. Hunt on Dark Waters, the first in the series, is set for fall 2023. It follows, the publisher said, “a sticky-fingered witch who escapes to a new realm through a portal and is fished out of the sea by a mysterious band of seafaring pirates led by an irresistibly sexy captain.” Robert (the Dark Olympus series) is the bestselling author of more than 60 novels. She was represented in the deal by Laura Bradford at Bradford Literary Agency.

Kobabe and Srikumar Go to Graphix

For Scholastic’s Graphix imprint, David Levithan acquired world rights to Saachi’s Stories by Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer), illustrated by Lucky Srikumar, in a six-figure deal. The coming-of-age graphic novel is set for spring 2025 and follows, Scholastic said, “aspiring author Saachi, who struggles to navigate changing social dynamics and her evolving identity.” Wernick & Pratt’s Emily Mitchell brokered the agreement on behalf of Kobabe and Srikumar.

Random House Re-ups Bazelon

Emily Bazelon (Charged) sold a currently untitled book about the battle for sexual and reproductive rights in the U.S. to Random House. Andy Ward took North American rights from Elyse Cheney at the Cheney Literary Agency. RH said Bazelon will offer a “sweeping history” about “one of the most important human rights battles of our lifetimes,” stretching from “the early medical advances and legal battles of the mid-19th century to whatever happens next, in the wake of the end of Roe.” At press time, the book did not have a planned publication date.


Taylor Takes ‘Coach’ to Mariner

Sports journalist Jean-Jacques Taylor, who covers historically Black college and university football for ESPN, sold North American rights to Coach Prime to Rakia Clark at Mariner Books. Mariner said the book, subtitled Deion Sanders, the Making of Men, and the Quest for One Perfect Season, “focuses on Jackson State University’s recent football season, where NFL legend and head coach Deion Sanders attracted some of the nation’s top recruits, ushered in an HBCU resurgence, and revived a small Southern town.” Taylor didn’t use an agent in the deal.


Fram’s ‘Road’ Leads to Atria

For Atria, Loan Le bought North American rights to John Fram’s supernatural whodunit No Road Home. Atria said the novel, set for summer 2024, follows “a single father who marries into a televangelist family and must find a way to protect his young queer son—and clear his own name—after the family patriarch is found dead at their isolated Texas compound.” Fram (The Bright Lands) was represented by Melissa Danaczko at the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency.