USA TODAY bestselling author Kaira Rouda’s BEST DAY EVER, narrated by a husband who’s promised his wife that the first day of their romantic vacation will be her “best day ever,” but who might actually have more sinister intentions, to Margo Lipschultz for the new Graydon House imprint, in a two-book deal, by Katie Shea Boutillier.
P.C. Hodgell’s next novel in the Kencyrath series, Three Nights in Tai-tastigon, the sequel to The Gates of Tagmeth (coming from Baen in July 2017) and taking readers back to the fabled city featured in the critically acclaimed Godstalk, to Toni Weisskopf at Baen Books by Jennifer Jackson.
German rights to NYT bestselling author Annika Martin’s DARK MAFIA PRINCE, to Lyx, in a three-book deal, by Kathrin Nehm at Thomas Schlueck Agency in association with Katie Shea Boutillier on behalf of Cameron McClure.
French digital rights to Cherie Priest’s BONESHAKER, DREADNOUGHT, CLEMENTINE, three books from the Clockwork Century series, to Livre de Poche by David Camus at Anna Jarota Agency in association with Jennifer Jackson and Michael Curry.
French rights to Brent Weeks’s THE BLOOD MIRROR, Book 4 in the Lightbringer series, to Bragelonne, by David Camus of Anna Jarota Agency in association with Katie Shea Boutillier.
Complete Chinese renewal rights to Robert McCammon’s BOY’S LIFE, to Nautilus, by Gray Tan at The Grayhawk Agency, in association with Katie Shea Boutillier on behalf of Cameron McClure.
Spanish rights to World Fantasy, Hugo and Nebula award-winning author Nnedi Okorafor’s AKATA WITCH, to Marina M. Mangado at 2709 Books, by Jennifer Hoge at International Editors’ in association with Katie Shea Boutillier.
Italian rights to David Gerrold’s VOYAGE OF THE STAR WOLF, to Mondadori, by Stefania Fietta at Donzelli Fietta Agency in association with Katie Shea Boutillier.
Portuguese rights to New York Times bestselling author Anne Bishop’s MARKED IN FLESH and ETCHED IN BONE, the 4th and 5th books in the Others series, to SAIDA DE EMERGÊNCIA, by Maru De Montserrat at International Editors’ in association with Jennifer Jackson.
B&N: A ghost story lives or dies on its creep factor, and Priest absolutely nails it, spinning a Southern Gothic tale of family secrets and avenging spirits with just enough humor sprinkled throughout to break the tension before racheting the suspense back up to heart-pounding levels.
Whether weaving family life and history into dark fiction or writing speculative Afrofuturism, American Book Award winner and Essence bestselling author Tananarive Due’s work is both riveting and enlightening.
In her debut collection of short fiction, Due takes us to Gracetown, a small Florida town that has both literal and figurative ghost; into future scenarios that seem all too real; and provides empathetic portraits of those whose lives are touched by Otherness. Featuring an award-winning novella and fifteen stories—one of which has never been published before—Ghost Summer: Stories is sure to both haunt and delight.
Tor.com: Priest has a striking prose style–she’s immensely readable–and a chilling ability to write really unnerving scenes. […] The pace is tight the whole way through, with tension that rises peak on peak up to the climactic crisis. […] The house itself is an incredible character. Place matters, here: matters deeply. One of the most notable things about The Family Plot, as a southern Gothic haunted house horror novel, is the sense of ever-increasing claustrophobia. It’s about interiors, both literal and metaphorical: the interior of the house, and the inside of a person’s mind and/or emotions. The inside of the home turned strange and threatening: the inside of the self exposed and forced into the light.
Simon Pulse has acquired, with Liesa Abrams to edit, We Are the Ants author Shaun David Hutchinson’s new YA book, The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza, about a teen who was the first scientifically confirmed “virgin birth.” At 16 she discovers she can heal with a touch; simultaneously, people all over the world start disappearing in beams of light, making her wonder if she is bringing about the Apocalypse. Publication is scheduled for spring 2018; Amy Boggs at Donald Maass Literary Agency brokered the two-book deal for World English rights.
World Fantasy Award nominee Yoon Ha Lee’s story collection, to include the current short fiction from the Hexarachate setting of NINEFOX GAMBIT along with new previously unpublished stories, to be published in 2018, sold to Jonathan Oliver at Solaris via Jennifer Jackson.
RT Book Reviews: Priest continues to cement her reputation as a master of modern gothic with a haunted house tale that’s a slow burn with an utterly addictive finale. Though it feels like more could be done with the ghosts of the Withrow house, the living characters do more than their fair share of lifting with interactions that are charming and funny. That said, fans and new readers should walk away satisfied and just a little bit worried when in the house alone.
Joy Peskin at Farrar, Straus Children’s has acquired award-winning playwright Mariah MacCarthy’s Squad, about a cheerleader who suddenly becomes alienated by her best friend and cheer squad and is set out to discover who she is without the things that always defined her. It’s planned to publish in Fall 2018; Katie Shea Boutillier of Donald Maass Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.
