Atria Goes to ‘The Other Side’ with Bishop
In a deal for U.S. and Canadian rights, Atria senior editor Sarah Branham preempted Stephanie Bishop’s sophomore novel, The Other Side of the World. Bishop is Australian, and the deal was brokered by Airlie Lawson at Hachette Australia. Bishop’s debut novel, The Singing (published by Hachette Australia in June), earned her a place on the Sydney Morning Herald’s list of best young Australian novelists. The Other Side of the World, which is set during the 1960s in England, Australia, and India, follows two people—Henry and Charlotte—in a crumbling marriage. The novel will be published by Hachette Australia in July, and Headline’s Tinder Press will release the book in the U.K. in August. Atria is planning to publish the book in 2016.

Anderson Has a ‘Bright Morning’ at SMP
Alice Anderson sold a memoir, Some Bright Morning, I’ll Fly Away, to Nichole Argyres at St. Martin’s Press in a deal brokered by Jennifer Gates at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth. Gates sold North American rights to the book, which chronicles how Anderson’s marriage, and life, unraveled in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. After losing her Mississippi home in the storm, Anderson’s marriage to the local physician turns violent and she flees with her three children in tow. Argyres said the book is “in the tradition of Mary Karr’s The Liars’ Club” and “paints a terrible time, shot through with breathtaking honesty.” Anderson is a published poet whose work has appeared in publications such as Agni and New York Quarterly.

Burton Picture Book Bio To HMH Kids
At Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, Kate O’Sullivan took world rights to Jinnee and the Big Machines, a picture book biography of children’s author-illustrator Virginia Lee Burton. The book is being written by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site) and illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner John Rocco (Blackout). HMH is timing the release of the title to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Little House, one of Burton’s best-known books, in fall 2017. Rinker was represented by Amy Rennert, who has an eponymous shingle, and Rocco was represented by Rob Weisbach, who also has an eponymous shingle.

Pegasus Lands New Robb Series
Author of the Owen Archer series, Candace Robb, closed a three-book deal with Pegasus Books for a new historical mystery series set in 14th-century York. The first book, The Service of the Dead, introduces readers to the axe-wielding young widow Kate Clifford, who runs a high-end guest house. Robb was represented by Jennifer Weltz at the Jean V. Naggar Agency; Weltz sold North American rights in the deal.

Briefs
Matt Fitzgerald (Racing Weight) sold The Endurance Diet to Renee Sedliar at Da Capo Lifelong Books. Fitzgerald, a sports nutritionist and author, will offer a diet and health routine that, according to Da Capo, is “based on the practices of the world’s best athletes.” The book, subtitled Look, Feel and Perform Better with the 5 Core Habits of the World’s Greatest Athletes, is set for spring 2017. Fitzgerald was represented by agent Linda Konner at Linda Konner Associates, who brokered the deal at auction.

For her eponymous children’s imprint at Penguin, Nancy Paulsen nabbed world rights to a picture book by Christina Soontornvat called The Ramble Shamble Children. The book will be illustrated by Lauren Castillo and follows five children trying to improve their dilapidated house. Soontornvat was represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties, and Castillo by Paul Rodeen at Rodeen Literary Management.

In a deal at Skyhorse Publishing’s children’s imprint, Sky Pony Press, Alison Weiss bought world rights to Tara Sim’s debut LGBTQ steampunk trilogy, the Timekeeper. The three-book deal was brokered by Laura Crockett at TriadaUS Literary Agency. The series, set in an alternate Victorian era in which time in each city is controlled by a clock tower, follows teenage prodigy clock tower mechanic Danny. Hoping to save his father, who is trapped in a town outside of London, Danny is also battling a force seeking to destroy all of the towers and stop time. The first book in the series is slated for fall 2016.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the name of author Tara Sim.