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Hilary Teeman at Ballantine has secured North American rights to A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys, marking a two-book agreement that is set to debut this fall. The novel is described as taking place during the peak of Prohibition in Detroit, exploring the lives of the auto barons of the era. It tells the story of a young woman, dubbed a “windshield heiress,” who rebels against her family’s expectations and finds refuge in an exclusive artists’ enclave. There, she unravels a story filled with deceit, corruption, and romance, all while illuminating the duality of glamor and corruption that characterized the Motor City during its golden age.
Mary Altman at Sourcebooks has acquired world English rights to the Tree of Knowledge series authored by Daniel G. Miller for a reported six-figure sum, negotiated through Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group. Positioned as a blend of Dan Brown’s The Secret of Secrets and Alex Michaelides’s The Maidens, the series follows a Princeton mathematics professor who possesses an unusual gift for foresight. The narrative involves him deciphering a complex code in order to exonerate himself in the wake of a murder investigation—before the premonitions he experiences come to fruition. A release date for the series has yet to be disclosed.
Seema Mahanian at Pamela Dorman has acquired North American rights, following a competitive auction, for Tastes Like Seeing God, a debut novel by Nina Michiko Tam. The book, described as an intersection between The Bear and Bryan Washington’s Memorial, revolves around a young woman grappling with the loss of her older brother, a talented chef. In her grief, she embarks on an adventurous journey across the globe, aiming to track down five culinary creations he insisted “taste like seeing God.” A publication date remains unconfirmed.
Lara Jones at Emily Bestler has purchased world English rights to Love and Lake Monsters by TJ Alexander from Larissa Melo Pienkowski at Jill Grinberg Literary Management. This contemporary LGBTQ+ romantic comedy follows an amateur cryptid hunter who escapes to a cabin in Upstate New York, seeking to break away from a monotonous existence while attempting to prove the existence of a lesser-known cryptid. However, when his curmudgeonly landlord reluctantly joins his quest, their previously predictable lives are poised for unexpected change. The book is slated for a fall 2026 release.
Ann Triestman and Devorah Backman at Countryman Press acquired world rights to A Field Guide to Sad Beige Parents by Hayley DeRoche from Sharon Pelletier at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. This illustrated gift book is anchored in the humorous, relatable content that DeRoche has become known for, catering to parents who either embrace or reject the so-called ‘beige phenomenon’ in parenting culture. The anticipated release is scheduled for April of next year.
In Brief
Ann Godoff at Penguin has secured U.S., Canadian, and open market rights to Thomas Pynchon’s Shadow Ticket, with plans for an October release.
Ben Greenberg at Random House has obtained North American rights to Patti Smith’s memoir Bread of Angels, which is set to be released in November.
George Witte at St. Martin’s picked up North American rights for Joe Manchin’s memoir titled Dead Center, with a release date scheduled for September.
Andrew Martin at Minotaur acquired North American rights to two forthcoming novels featuring Chief Inspector Gamache by Louise Penny, estimated for release in the fall of 2026 and 2027.
Leah Hultenschmidt at Forever has secured world rights to a trilogy from Abby Jimenez, author of Say You’ll Remember Me, scheduled for publication between 2027 and 2029.
Rebecca Taylor at Inklore and Kate McHale at Inklore UK have taken world English rights to the manhwa series How to Hide the Emperor’s Child, based on Lee Yeonseon’s webnovel, from C&C Revolution. Katelyn Hemmeke is set to edit, with the first title expected in 2026.
A version of this article appeared in the 04/14/2025 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: Deals
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