DEAL OF THE WEEK

MIT Gets ‘Exquisite’ with Harding

For the MIT Press, Bob Prior bought world rights to Sian Harding’s debut, The Exquisite Machine. The nonfiction book from the professor at Imperial College London is, the press said, about “the workings of the human heart.” Harding said the book explores the “revolution going on in our understanding of the heart” and gets into “the perfection of its design and the way it fights for your survival.” Jaime Marshall at J.P. Marshall Literary Agency represented Harding, calling her “an established world authority in cardiac research.” 

FROM THE U.S.

Simon’s ‘Sea’ Sails to CRP

Nelson Simon sold Into the Sea, a first-person survival story, to Jerry Pohlen at Chicago Review Press. The world rights agreement was brokered by Stacey Glick at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. The book, slated for fall 2021, is about a sailing trip the author took in October 1991. What was intended as a relaxing getaway turned into a fight for survival when Simon’s ship sailed into the path of Hurricane Grace. Describing the book, Glick said it is both “a gripping story of survival and an exploration of the choices we make and where those choices land us.”

Pinkney Takes ‘Loretta’ to LB

For Little, Brown, Alvina Ling took world rights to Andrea Davis Pinkney’s Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It. The middle grade title by the Scholastic editor (and picture book author) is, LB said, is about “three children as they navigate the dramatic events that lead to African American voting rights.” The book will be illustrated by Pinkney’s frequent collaborator and husband, Brian Pinkney. Rebecca Sherman at Writers House brokered the agreement for the book, which is slated for fall 2020.

June’s ‘Jay’ Draws HarperTeen

After an auction, HarperTeen’s Megan Ilnitzki won Jason June’s Jay’s Gay Agenda. The world English rights, two-book agreement was brokered by Brent Taylor at Triada US. Taylor said the debut YA novel “follows the titular character after he moves to Seattle from his rural high school, introducing him to other queer teens for the first time, and allowing him to finally cross items off his gay romance to-do list.” The novel is scheduled for summer 2021.

North’s Graphic YA to Yellow Jacket

For Bonnier’s middle grade imprint Yellow Jacket, Rachel Gluckstern nabbed world English rights to Ari North’s Always Human. The graphic novel, being published in partnership with GLAAD, is, the publisher said, “about the developing relationship between two young women in a near-future, soft sci-fi setting.” North, a webcomic artist, the publisher noted, adds “an extraordinary color palette” to the work, which is slated for summer 2020. Maria Vicente, at P.S. Literary Agency, represented North.

Gonzales’s ‘Ex-Girlfriend’ Cozies Up to Wednesday Books

Sophie Gonzales sold a YA novel titled The Ex-Girlfriend Getter-Backer Experiment to Sylvan Creekmore at Wednesday Books. Moe Ferrara at BookEnds Literary brokered the world rights deal. According to the publisher, the novel follows “a bisexual girl who gives out anonymous love advice at her high school.” When she’s blackmailed by a popular guy in her class “into helping him get his ex-girlfriend back... the unintended consequences of her advice end up affecting everyone, including herself.” The publisher added that the book, slated for spring 2021, was pitched as The DUFF meets To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.