WCA Deal Report for April 25, 2018

By Deals

Antonio Michael Downing’s BECOMING JOHN ORPHEUS, a memoir of radical creativity, about a young Trinidadian boy who lands in a remote Northern Ontario town and navigates his beguiling new world as an orphan, immigrant and minority by using music and performance to dramatically transform himself, to Penguin Publishing Director Diane Turbide at Penguin Random House Canada, in a pre-empt, by John Pearce at Westwood Creative Artists in association with Chris Casuccio (Canada English).

Julie Matysik at Running Press Kids has acquired Troy Wilson’s LITTLE RED READING HOOD AND THE MISREAD WOLF, a celebration of the love of reading and a reminder you can’t judge a book – er, wolf – by its cover. Ilaria Campana will illustrate. Publication is scheduled for July 2019. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists brokered the deal for World rights for the author and Aurora Meyer at Astound Us brokered the deal for the illustrator.

WCA Deal Report for April 12, 2018

By Deals

Poet and screenwriter Esta Spalding’s SHOUT OUT FOR THE FITZGERALD-TROUTS, the much-anticipated third book in a Dahl-esque middle-grade series featuring a band of loosely related self-reliant siblings who live alone in their car on a tropical island, for publication in Summer 2019, and an untitled middle grade fiction book, to Tara Walker and Lynne Missen at Tundra Books, by Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists (World). Film and TV rights previously optioned by Argent Pictures and 3311 Productions and Semi Chellas (Mad Men, The Romanoffs, Ophelia), by Jerry Kalajian of the Intellectual Property Group on behalf of Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists.

From the author and illustrator team of Sakura’s Cherry Blossoms, Robert Paul Weston and Misa Saburi NATSUMI’S SONG OF SUMMER, a new tanka poem picture book that celebrates the special pleasures of summertime and of reunions with faraway family and friends, to Jessica Burgess at Tundra Books, for publication in Summer 2020, by Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists (World).

Apply for a Fall Internship at WCA!

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Westwood Creative Artists, one of Canada’s largest literary agencies representing more than 400 writers, is looking for a candidate to fill a full-time 12 week internship position, beginning Monday August 20th and ending Friday November 2nd, with possible flexibility for the right candidate.

A considerable amount of time during this internship will be spent working with WCA’s  international rights director and rights associate in preparation for the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. There will also be the opportunity to work with other WCA agents and at the reception desk. In the rights department, the intern will be involved in catalogue proofreading, general preparation and follow-up for the Frankfurt Book Fair. There will also be some data entry and other administrative tasks. While working with individual agents, the intern will understand how the agents manage their authors, learn about Canadian and US submissions, and provide needed support in a varied number of capacities. At the reception desk, the intern will really be at the “nerve centre” of the agency. Tasks will include daily administration work, reading submissions, and receiving authors and publishers as they arrive at the agency.

We offer a competitive honorarium of $1500, a lively and congenial work environment in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood, and an excellent opportunity to gain an overview of the publishing industry in Canada and abroad through the lens of the literary agent and the writers we represent.

The ideal candidate will be eager to learn, highly organized, energetic, and have a positive outlook. Strong proofreading and computer skills required; previous office experience and knowledge of the publishing industry an asset; passionate attention to detail and accuracy a must. Please send your cover letter, resume, and references to the attention of Carolyn Forde at Carolyn@wcaltd.com at your earliest convenience or by July 16th. We appreciate all applications but will only reply to candidates selected for an interview.

 

When the Moon Comes is IBBY Honour Book

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moon matt jamesWhen the Moon Comes, illustrated by Matt James and written by Paul Harbridge is an Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award Honour Book!

The Jury commented:

“James’s illustrations are magnificent, an excellent marriage between bright and dark colours. He evocatively captures the sense of waiting for the perfect moment when the ice will finally be ready for that first hockey match on the pond.”

IBBY Canada’s Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award, established in 1985, honours one of Canada’s pre-eminent book illustrators.

WCA Authors Selected for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

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Carson linda baileysquirrels nancy rosesadie o'learymoon matt jamesWe are delighted to share that four WCA authors have been chosen for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Imagination Library books are specially selected age-appropriate, high-quality titles. These books are delivered to registered children each month from birth to age five. This effort creates a gifting experience making books exciting and shows the child someone is thinking of them.

Carson Crosses Canada by Linda Bailey

The Secret Life of Squirrels by Rose

This is Sadie by Sara O’Leary

When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge and illustrated by Matt James

Indian Horse Big Winner at Leo Awards

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Indian horse - wagameseThe film adaptation of Richard Wagamese’s Indian Horse was nominated in five categories of the 2018 Leo Awards and won in two categories! It was nominated for best motion picture, best director, best screenwriting, best picture editing, and best musical score. It won best visual effects and best sound.

Organised by the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, the Leo Awards celebrate and promote the achievements of the British Columbia film and television industry.

Karolyn Smardz Frost Wins Speaker’s Book Award

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steal away frostCongrats to Karolyn Smardz Frost, whose compelling work of narrative non-fiction Steal Away Home: One Woman’s Epic Flight to Freedom – And Her Long Road Back to the South is the winner of the 2017 Speaker’s Book Award. The Honourable Dave Levac, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, made the announcement during a ceremony at the Ontario Legislature on March 5th, 2018. Steal Away Home will be featured at the Legislative Library, and available for purchase at the Legislative Assembly Gift Shop.

Kyo Maclear Receives the IODE Jean Throop Book Award

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yak and doveWe’re delighted to announce that Yak and Dove author Kyo Maclear has received the 2017 IODE Ontario Jean Throop Book Award. The award encourages excellence in Canadian children’s literature and is presented to an illustrator or author who resides in Ontario. Previous IODE Jean Throop Book Award winners include Dennis Lee, Barbara Reid, Kenneth Oppel, Chris Hadfield, and Terry and Eric Fan.