Greenwillow Takes McQuein Debut
Josin L. McQuein sold her first novel, Arclight, to Martha Mihalick at HarperCollins's Greenwillow Books imprint. Mihalick pre-empted North American rights to the YA novel in a two-book deal—a sequel is planned—from agent Suzie Townsend at FinePrint Literary Management. Townsend said the work is a dystopian thriller in which a teenage girl emerges as an unlikely savior from a "parasitic race" threatening to wipe out humanity.

Vardalos Goes On Record at Da Capo
Nia Vardalos, who shot to fame as the star (and screenwriter) of the 2002 romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding, sold a memoir to Katie McHugh at Da Capo, working with agent Laura Nolan at Paradigm. McHugh took world rights to the currently untitled book in which Vardalos will discuss everything from how she broke into the film business to her decision to adopt a daughter from foster care. Da Capo, which is planning a fall 2012 release, said the book showcases the author's self-proclaimed status as a "naïvely confident dork" and delves into her attempt to remain fearless in Hollywood, a town known for being "fear-ridden."

Just Closes for Heilbroner, Baron
Julie Just, at Janklow & Nesbit, sold world rights to Joan Heilbroner's A Pet Named Sneaker. Alice Jonaitis at Random House acquired the early reader title for the Beginner Books series. Heilbroner, 89, is something of a legend in children's publishing; her first book, Robert the Rose Horse, was bought by Dr. Seuss in 1962 (when Seuss, whose real name is Theodor Geisel, was an editor at Random House) and has over 400,000 copies in print. The new book, tentatively slated for spring 2013, is about a gifted snake that can perform a variety of tricks.

In a second deal, Just sold North American rights, in a two-book deal, to screenwriter/playwright Jeff Baron's debut novel, I Represent Sean Rosen. (The sale includes a sequel.) Virginia Duncan at HC's Greenwillow acquired the book and is planning to publish it in early 2013. Baron, a Harvard M.B.A. who worked for MTV and Coke, has a varied writing background; he created the Off-Broadway play Visiting Mr. Green (which starred Eli Wallach) and has also written for Nickelodeon and The Tracey Ullman Show. In Sean Rosen, an ambitious 13-year-old boy launches a creative career from the confines of his bedroom, complete with fake manager, and winds up drawing interest from a Hollywood studio eager to produce his movie.