at Inkwell Management.■ Feiwel Gets American Girls
For Feiwel & Friends, Kat Brzozowski bought world rights
to a currently untitled book by Allison Horrocks and Mary
Mahoney. Sold by Lauren MacLeod at the Strothman
Agency, the book will
build on the American
Girls podcast that the
authors host about the
American Girl brand
(best known for its line
of dolls). Elaborating,
the agent said the
work will be “part trav-
elogue, part memoir, part pop culture–soaked meditation
on the history, politics, and impact of these early historical
dolls, book series, and beloved ’90s catalogues.” American
Girls is set for a winter 2023 release.■ Bloomsbury Fans
Mellors’s ‘Cleopatra’
British author Coco Mellors sold her
debut novel, Cleopatra and Franken-
stein, to Grace McNamee at Blooms-
bury. The book follows a young
British painter whose marriage to an
American, the publisher said, sets off
“chaos and heartbreak in their own
lives and the lives of their friends and
family.” Mellors, who has an MFA
from New York University, was represented by Millie
Hoskins at U.K.-based United Agents. The book is set for
winter 2022.■ Evans Flies at Howard
Country music star Sara Evans sold
Born to Fly to Simon & Schuster’s
Howard Books. Howard bought U.S.,
Canadian, and open market rights to
the memoir from Margaret Riley
King at William Morris Endeavor, and
Trish Todd will edit. The publisher
said that in the book, Evans will
“open up and share stories not only
about her career and what it is like living in the spotlight,
but about what inspires her and how her faith keeps her
strong.” The memoir is set for September.DEAL OF THE WEEK
DEALS
By Rachel Deahl■ Williams Tells All at Knopf
Actor Billy Dee Williams sold a currently untitled memoir
to Knopf. Victoria Wilson took U.S. and Canadian rights to
the book from Dan Strone at Trident Media Group. Strone
said the memoir is “a rich coming-of-age portrait” that
touches on Williams’s landmark performances, including his
breakthrough part in 1971’s Brian’s Song and his most well-
known role, that of Lando Calrissian in
the original Star Wars trilogy. In addi-
tion, Strone said, the memoir tackles
“his marriages; his Hollywood; his
complex friendships with James
Baldwin, Laurence Olivier, Duke
Ellington, Gershwin, Brando, Sidney
Poitier, Berry Gordy, Diana Ross, and
George Lucas; and much more.” The
book is scheduled for 2022.■ Viking Pays Up for
George’s Latest Lynley
In a seven-figure deal, Viking’s Brian
Tart bought Elizabeth George’s 21st
Inspector Lynley mystery, tentatively
titled Something to Hide. The North
American rights agreement was bro-
kered by Robert Gottlieb at Trident
Media Group, who said the book fol-
lows Thomas Lynley’s investigation
into the death of a police detective, which, Gottlieb
explained, forces him to “sort through a tangle of lies and
deceit in a case that turns out to have far-reaching cultural
associations he had not anticipated.”■ Power Proves ‘Gold’
for Del Rey
In a two-book deal, Rory Power sold
her adult debut, In a Garden Burning
Gold, to Del Rey at auction. Sarah
Peed nabbed North American rights
to the novel, which Del Rey said fol-
lows twins with special powers and
“near immortality” who “will do any-
thing to keep their family safe—even
if it tears them apart.” Power, whose lauded YA debut,
Wilder Girls, became a bestseller after its release last July,
was represented by Kim Witherspoon and Jessica Mileo© CHRIS
HASTON
©
MICHAEL
STADLER
WWW.PUBLISHERSWEEKLY.COM 13WilliamsMellorsEvansGeorgePowerHorrocks and Mahoney (r.)