DEAL OF THE WEEK
DEALS
By Rachel Deahl■ Ecco Captures Van Pelt’s ‘Creatures’
In a high-six-figure deal, Ecco’s Helen Atsma won North
American rights at auction to Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably
Bright Creatures. Kristin Nelson, who has an eponymous
shingle, sold the debut novel, which she said is “for fans of
My Octopus Teacher and Kevin Wilson.” Slated for spring
2022, Remarkably Bright Creatures
follows a widow who befriends an
aquarium-dwelling octopus. “When a
grifter comes to town,” Nelson added,
“the three unlock a truth tied to her
son’s disappearance 30 years ago.”
The novel has also sold in a number
of international deals, including in six-
figure acquisitions in the U.K. and
Germany.■ Penn to Pen Memoir
At Gallery Books, Aimee Bell took
world rights to Kal Penn’s You Can’t
Be Serious. The memoir, which was
sold by Robert B. Barnett at Williams
& Connolly, is set for November. Gallery
said it’s “a series of candid, ridiculous,
funny, consequential, and awkward
stories from Penn’s surprising life.”
The author rose to fame with his star-
ring role in the 2004 film Harold &
Kumar Go to White Castle. He then became a staffer in the
Obama White House. The book, Gallery noted, is “about
growing up as a skinny kid with a funny name and later
helping another skinny kid with a funny name become presi-
dent of the United States.”■ Shriver’s Imprint Explores Volf’s ‘Life’
For The Open Field, Maria Shriver’s
new imprint at Penguin Random House,
Meg Leder bought world rights at auc-
tion to Miroslav Volf’s A Life Worth
Living. Volf, director of the Yale Center
for Faith & Culture, is writing the book
with Matthew Croasmun and Ryan
McAnnally-Linz. PRH said A Life
Worth Living is based on one of Volf’s
courses and is a guide that draws on
the lives of notable figures “to answer the questions more©^
LELANDGERSHELL©^ RYANLA
SH^
PHOTOGRAPHY10 PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ■ MARCH 8, 2021
Van PeltPennVolfand more people are asking themselves as they go about
day-to-day routines: What kind of life would be truly worth
wanting? How should we live?” Alice Martell at the Martell
Agency negotiated the deal.■ Bird-Wilson Lands at Hogarth
Lisa Bird-Wilson, a Métis writer,
sold her debut novel to David Eber-
shoff at Hogarth. Probably Ruby,
Hogarth said, follows “a Métis
woman adopted by white parents as
an infant now in search of her iden-
tity.” Denise Bukowski at the
Bukowski Literary Agency repre-
sented the author, who is the director
of the Gabriel Dumont Institute of
Native Studies in Saskatchewan.■ Atria Nabs Debut
Atria’s Loan Le preempted Carolyn
Huynh’s debut novel The Fortunes of
Jaded Women. Le said the book is
about “a family of estranged Viet-
namese mothers and daughters who
grapple with a psychic’s prediction—
that the family will, all in one year,
experience a death, a marriage, and
a pregnancy.” Stephanie Kim at New
Leaf Literary & Media handled the
world English rights deal.■ Cooper Signs for Seven
Author, professor, and activist Brittney
Cooper (Eloquent Rage) inked a world
rights deal with Scholastic’s Liza Baker,
David Levithan, and Maya Marlette
at auction for three picture books and
a four-title middle grade series. Scho-
lastic president and publisher Ellie
Berger called Cooper “a preeminent
voice in today’s discussions of race,
feminism, equity, and inclusion.” The
first picture book, Stand Up: 10 Mighty Women Who Made
a Change!, is set for March 2022. Scholastic said the series,
titled the Bees, will launch in late 2022 and “celebrates Black
girls and their friendships.” Tanya McKinnon at McKinnon
Literary represented Cooper; Baker acquired the picture
books and Levithan and Marlette bought the MG series.Bird-WilsonHuynhCooper