DEAL OF THE WEEK
DEALS
By Rachel Deahl■ SMP Goes Big for Gramont’s ‘Mystery’
In a rumored seven-figure deal, Jennifer Enderlin at St. Martin’s Press pre-
empted Nina de Gramont’s novel The Mystery Writer. The world rights agree-
ment was brokered by Peter Steinberg at Foundry Literary + Media. The
work, SMP said, centers on the real-life disappearance
of Agatha Christie, who went missing for 11 days in 1926.
The publisher explained that the novel “is told through
the point of view of husband Archie Christie’s mistress.”
Gramont, who teaches creative writing at the University
of North Carolina at Wilmington, is the author of numerous
books for teens and adults; her 2001 debut, the short
story collection Of Cats and Men, won a Discovery Award
from the New England Booksellers Association. Film
rights to the work are being handed by Rich Green at the
Gotham Group.■ Yovanovitch Sells Memoir to HMH
Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to
Ukraine, sold a currently untitled memoir to Alex Littlefield
at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Littlefield preempted world
rights to the book, for a reported seven figures, from
Matt Latimer and Keith Urbahn at Javelin. HMH said
the book, slated for spring 2021, “will recount Yovanovitch’s
long career in the U.S. foreign service, which took her from
Mogadishu to Moscow to Kiev and finally back to Wash-
ington, D.C.—where, to her dismay, she found a political
system beset by many of the same challenges she had
spent her career combating overseas.”■ Goodall Brings ‘Hope’ to Celadon
Doug Abrams at Idea Architects sold The Book of Hope,
which he’s cowriting with Jane Goodall, to Celadon
Books. Jamie Raab took North American rights to the
title, which is set for fall 2021, and will, the publisher said,
“celebrate the 60th anniversary of Jane’s pioneering
research” and “show how, even in the face of great adversity,
hope can be found in human nature and in nature itself.”
Abrams, who founded the Idea Architects agency, also
cowrote The Book of Joy, a 2016 bestseller by the Dalai
Lama and Desmond Tutu. Goodall was represented in the agreement by Adrian
Sington at Kruger Cowne.■ ‘The Ballerinas’ Pirouette at SMP
In a six-figure acquisition, Sarah Cantin at St. Martin’s Press nabbed world
rights to Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s debut novel, The Ballerinas. SMP said the
book, which Cantin preempted from Sarah Phair at Sanford J. GreenburgerGramont© INSTITUDEFORTHESTUDYOF
DIPLOMACYYovanovitch©
MICHAELCOLLOPYGoodall8 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ MARCH 2, 2020
News
cultural heritage. I want children to
feel proud of their heritage.Patty Rodriguez: This is an exciting
time for Lil’ Libros. Since we started
this company, our dream has always
been to create beautiful books for
all children, focusing on stories and
creators that are constantly being
overlooked. Marcela has all the ingre-
dients you want in a storyteller: she is
passionate about her art, and her
mission is aligned with ours.Ariana Stein: We are absolutely
thrilled to welcome Marcela Valladolid
to our family. Marcela is an inspiration
to many, and we are honored that
she’s given us the opportunity to pub-
lish her first children’s book. This part-
nership helps us deliver on our promise
to bring talented voices to Lil’ Libros.Marcela, you have published all
of your cookbooks with major
publishers. Why did you choose
a small independent publisher
for this book?
M.V.: I could have gone to the major
houses but felt this was the right fit and
the right time for me. And who better
for me to partner with than a Latina-led
publisher? I love their books, and I’m a
great admirer of their work and mission,
so when Patty approached me, I knew
it was right.What’s new for spring and
summer from Lil’ Libros?
A.S.: In late March, we are releasing
The Solar System with Ellen, a bilin-
gual astronomy board book inspired
by Dr. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina to
go to space. We are also accepting
submissions, because we know our
community is full of storytellers and
creators. Our doors are wide open.
—Leylha Ahuile