Allison Lorentzen at Viking took North American rights, at auction, to Sons of God: Young Men and the Search for Meaning in a New Christian America by Ruth Graham (pictured l.) from Jessica Spitz at Janklow & Nesbit. The New York Times reporter’s debut investigates “the seismic shift in the American religious landscape as young men flock to the pews” and “how this evolving movement—which is often intertwined with resurgent strains of social conservatism—will shape the political and spiritual future of the country.” Pub date TBA. (photo: Earl Wilson)

Emi Ikkanda at Tiny Reparations netted world rights to Phoebe Robinson’s Rich Auntie from Robert Guinsler at Sterling Lord Literistic. The actor and comedian’s latest essay collection offers “a hilarious celebration of life in its fullness, including plenty of messiness and surprises,” per the publisher, touching on such topics as dating, work, and female friendships. Publication is scheduled for spring 2028.

Emilia Rhodes at Atria took U.S. Commonwealth rights to Alexandra Christo’s Cursekeeper from Maddy Belton at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. Christo’s adult debut, the first title in a new romantasy series, sees “a human guardian of a library of curses and a fallen fae prince form an uneasy alliance to unravel a dark conspiracy that threatens war,” per the publisher. Release is set for November 2026.

Chelsea Cutchens at Hyperion Avenue bought, at auction, in a two-book deal, world rights to Reba McQueen’s Werewolves of Waffle Hutch from Ginger Hutchinson at Movable Type Management. The publisher called McQueen’s debut a “darkly comic horror novel” following the graveyard shift staff at a 24-hour diner in West Virginia as a series of gruesome
deaths prompts rumors of creatures in the woods. Release is scheduled for spring 2027.

Lisa Bonvissuto at Berkley preempted North American rights to Evie Ross’s Please Kill My Boss from Jessica Mileo at InkWell Management. The novel follows “an employee whose horrible boss drops dead in front of her, and who now must team up with her coworkers to investigate, even though they all have a motive for murder,” per the publisher. Publication is planned for spring 2027.

Ryan Doherty at Celadon landed, in an exclusive submission, North American rights to Pulitzer winner Paul Pringle’s Blood Sun Rising from Will Lippincott and Jen Marshall at Aevitas Creative Management. The book draws on four decades of reporting on former LAPD chief Bernard C. Parks’s efforts to stem a wave of violence, corruption, and crime in Los Angeles at the turn of the millennium.
A spring 2028 release is set.

In Brief

  • David Ebershoff at Random House acquired world English rights to David Kertzer’s The Secret Inquisition: Mussolini, the Vatican, and the Untold Story of Fascist Italy’s War on the Jews, a history of Italy’s 1938 racial laws, from Wendy Strothman of Aevitas Creative Management, for a January 2027 release.

  • Kathryn Renz Hamilton at Convergent picked up world rights to Jules Acree’s This Season of Life Counts: Stories & Gentle Practices for the Busy, Slow, and In-Between, which builds on the author’s popular Slow Brew Sunday newsletter, from Lauren Spieller at Folio Literary Management, for a fall 2026 publication.

  • Tess Banta at 23rd Street preempted, in a three-book deal, world rights to Kelly Bull’s House Hunters, the first title in a debut graphic novel series about a woman who must fight her neighbors in a series of deadly battles in lieu of paying rent, from Jane Chun at Transatlantic Literary Agency for publication in 2029.

  • Dan Ambrosio at Diversion netted world English rights to diet and exercise book The 10-Day Flat Belly Fix by actor Morris Chestnut and celebrity trainer Obi Obadike from Joseph Perry at Perry Literary, for a January 2027 release.

​​​