DEAL OF THE WEEK

Scribner Buys Abedin’s Memoir

Scribner’s Nan Graham acquired world English rights to Huma Abedin’s memoir, Both/And: A Life in Many Worlds. It details, according to the publisher, the “inspiring story” of the author’s “coming of age as an American Muslim, the daughter of Indian and Pakistani scholars who split their time between Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and the U.K.” Abedin has been a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton and is in the process of divorcing former congressman Anthony Weiner. Graham said Both/And is a “superb and significant memoir about the shaping of a character and the extraordinary worlds in which Abedin has traveled.” Abedin was represented in the deal by Creative Artists Agency.

FROM THE U.S.

Jonas Bros. Spill ‘Blood’ for Dey Street

The Jonas Brothers sold Blood to Carrie Thornton at Dey Street Books, which is calling the book their “first and fully immersive memoir.” The band—composed of Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas—was represented in the world rights agreement by Byrd Leavell and Albert Lee at United Talent Agency. Dey Street said Blood will share the brothers’ “complete story, from their Disney days through their contentious breakup and explosive reunion.” It’s being written with music journalist Neil Strauss, and Matthew Daddona at Dey Street is editing. According to the publisher, the Jonas Brothers have sold more than 22 million albums.

New Press Nabs Police Abolition Title

Diane Wachtell and zakia henderson-brown at the New Press bought world rights to No More Police: A Case for Abolition by authors and longtime organizers Mariame Kaba (We Do This ’Til We Free Us) and Andrea J. Ritchie (Invisible No More) in an unagented deal. The book, the publisher said, “makes a compelling case that police can’t be reformed to produce safety” and offers “a road map to a world in which the tools to prevent and address violence are multiplied.” No More Police is slated for May 2022.

Policy Comic Goes to First Second

Mark Siegel at First Second bought world rights to The Greater Good, written by Whit Taylor, with art by Joyce Rice. The publisher described the adult graphic novel as being about “public health and the policy and infrastructure that facilitates it.” Taylor was represented by Judy Hansen at Hansen Literary, and Rice was represented by Kate McKean at Howard Morhaim Literary. The Greater Good is set for 2023.


Castillo Does Double at Viking

In a North American rights agreement, Elaine Castillo (America Is Not the Heart) sold an essay collection and a novel to Laura Tisdel at Viking. The publisher said the collection, How to Read Now, is about “the politics and ethics of reading.” The novel, Sexual History, is about a Filipinx American artist who, with her white husband, “road-trips from the Bay Area to Las Vegas to attend the funeral of the artist’s older half brother, who abused her when she was a child.” The collection is slated for a summer 2022 release, and the novel for winter 2024. Emma Paterson at Aitken Alexander represented Castillo.


Loftis’s ‘Watchmaker’ Repairs to Morrow

Bestselling author Larry Loftis (The Princess Spy) sold The Watchmaker’s Daughter at auction to Mauro DiPreta at William Morrow in a U.S., Canadian, and open market rights deal. Loftis was represented by Keith Urbahn and Matt Carlini at Javelin. Urbahn said the nonfiction book tells the story of Corrie ten Boom, who was “a groundbreaking female Dutch watchmaker who sheltered Jews and refugees from the Nazis, and persevered despite the loss of most of her family and being sent to a concentration camp.”