WCA Deal Report for May 22, 2020

By Deals

Janice Zawerbny at HarperCollins Canada pre-empted Damhnait Monaghan’s debut novel New Girl in Little Cove, a light-hearted romantic comedy, set in 1985, about a teacher from a big city who takes a job at a Catholic school in a small Newfoundland fishing village, pitched as Derry Girls meets ‘Come From Away.’ Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated the deal for North American English rights, with publication scheduled for spring 2021.

Jay Ingram’s THE SCIENCE OF WHY, VOL. 4, to Editura Niculescu (Romania), by Andreea Focsaneanu at Simona Kessler Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Annabel Lyon’s CONSENT, to Atlantic Books (U.K.), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists on behalf of Jackie Kaiser.

Yann Martel’s SELF and THE FACTS BEHIND THE HELSINKI ROCCAMATIOS, renewed to JakkaJungsin (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

John Ralston Saul’s THE UNCONSCIOUS CIVILIZATION (e-book), to Shanghai Sanhui Culture and Press (China), by Claire Cai at Big Apple China; and VOLTAIRE’S BASTARDS to Artkonekt Publishing (Macedonia), by Vuk Perisic at Plima Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Michael Levine.

Josef Skvorecky’s THE BASS SAXOPHONE (radio), to Radio Literatura (Poland), by Tomasz Berezinski at Graal Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists.

WCA Deal Report for May 8, 2020

By Deals

Robert Hough‘s THE MARRIAGE OF ROSE CAMILLERI, the story of 19 year old Rosie who leaves her rustic village on a tiny Maltese island to seek her fortune in Toronto, to Douglas and McIntyre, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (North American English).

Ken Whyte at Sutherland House has acquired Say Please, Thank You, and Stand in Line, the debut memoir from Dany Assaf, co-written by Don Gillmor, in which the author explores his experiences growing up Muslim in Alberta, and how his family is one of many that make up an integral part of both Canada’s past and future. Especially after 9/11, Assaf has worked in his communities and through his profession as a lawyer specializing in economic policy, to safeguard not only Canada in the face of global unrest, but the place of Muslim Canadians in the country’s culture. Michael Levine at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author.

WCA Deal Report for April 17, 2020

By Deals

Susan Juby’s ALICE, I THINK, to Polyandria (Russia), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.

Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI, renewed to Inkilap Kitabevi (Turkey), by Atilla Izgi Turgut at Akcali Copyright Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Sara O’Leary’s THE GHOST IN THE HOUSE, to Alpress (Czech Republic), by Tereza Krobotova at Kristin Olson Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

WCA Deal Report for March 27, 2020

By Deals

Darrell Bricker & John Ibbitson’s EMPTY PLANET, to Business Today Publisher (Taiwan), by Whitney Hsu at Andrew Nurnberg Associates Taiwan, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Denise Chong’s THE CONCUBINE’S CHILDREN, to Saga (Denmark), by Monique Oosterhof at MO Literary Services, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Roy MacGregor’s NORTHERN LIGHT, to University of Ottawa Press (World French), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.

Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI (illustrated edition) and BEATRICE AND VIRGIL, renewed to JakkaJungsin (Korea), by Tae Eun Kim at Shinwon Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Samantha Swenson at Tundra Books has acquired, at auction, THE FAMILY TREE, the debut picture book from novelist, playwright and actor Sean Dixon, in which a common school assignment prompts a girl to show that the ways to display the members of a family are as unique and special as the families themselves, inspired by his own daughter’s experience. Lily Snowden-Fine will illustrate. Publication is slated for spring 2022. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author and the illustrator represented herself in the world rights deal.

Author of the memoir JULIET’S ANSWER Glenn Dixon’s BOOTLEG STARDUST, a coming-of-age caper set in the rock and roll world of the 1970s, about a down-and-out guitar player whose big break doesn’t quite go as planned, to Sarah St. Pierre at Simon & Schuster Canada, for publication in spring 2021, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists.

Diane Turbide at Penguin Canada has acquired THE YEAR OF DYING DANGEROUSLY, a book by Dr. Jean Marmoreo, co-written by Johanna Schneller. A renowned family physician, marathon runner, and author of The New Middle Ages: Women in Midlife, Dr. Marmoreo elaborates how she has changed her practice from that of family medicine and saving lives, to helping people die with dignity on their own terms. Johanna Schneller is a respected and prolific journalist for The Globe and Mail. Dr. Marmoreo is represented by Michael Levine of Westwood Creative Artists, and Schneller by Amy Moore-Benson of Meridian Artists.

COVID-19 Update

By News

The world is shifting and our physical office is temporarily closed, but WCA agents and staff are working very hard: we are continuing to make submissions, close deals, finalize contracts, and support our clients domestically and internationally in every way we can. We are grateful for our cherished authors and illustrators and our many publishing friends. This has been and will continue to be an unprecedented challenge, but we are well positioned to adapt, and we will get through this together. Please stay safe and healthy. 

 

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – Neil Gaiman in Coraline 

WCA Deal Report for February 21, 2020

By News

Kathryn Nicolai’s NOTHING MUCH HAPPENS, to Helios (Estonia), by Tatjana Zoldnere at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Barbara Gowdy’s THE WHITE BONE and THE ROMANTIC, to Edizioni E/O (Italy), by Elisa Berretta at The Italian Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

Thomas King’s DREADFULWATER, to Liana Levi (France), by Celia Long at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.

John Geiger and Owen Beattie’s FROZEN IN TIME, to Paulsen (Russian Federation), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.

WCA Deal Report for January 22, 2020

By Deals

Author of CRUSHING IT and SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE Joanne Levy’s TREE OF LIFE, exploring loss and belonging through the unique friendship of a 12 year-old, who feels most at home in her parents’ funeral home (and is bullied accordingly,) and a mute boy, who comes into their lives when his parents are killed, to Tanya Trafford at Orca Books, for publication in fall 2021, by Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists (world).

Rohinton Mistry’s SUCH A LONG JOURNEY, to Artkonekt (Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of), by Vuk Perisic at Plima Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.

Sarah Quigley’s DIVORCE DIARIES, to Pan Press (China), by Cindy Zhang at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Bob McDonald’s AN EARTHLING’S GUIDE TO OUTER SPACE, to Beijing ERC Media (China), by Cindy Zhang at Andrew Nurnberg Associates, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.

Bill Cosgrave’s LOVE HER MADLY, to AST (Russian Federation), by Natalia Sanina at Synopsis Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Hilary McMahon.

Internship – Spring 2020

By News

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 January 27th and ending April 17th, 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 assistant in preparation for the London Book Fair in March. 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 London 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 an 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 Meg Wheeler at meg@wcaltd.com at your earliest convenience or by January 2nd, 2020. We appreciate all applications but will only reply to candidates selected for an interview.

CBC Summer Thrillers and Mysteries

By News

How do we know summer isn’t over yet? Because CBC Books just released a list of Canadian thrillers and mysteries to check out this summer. We were excited to discover that 4 of the 10 books were authored by WCA clients!

A Dance of Cranes by Steve Burrows

A Matter of Malice by Thomas King

Hideaway by Nicole Lundrigan

Vantage Point by Scott Thornley

With the exception of Hideway, the above titles are the most recent books in their respective series. Click here to see the full list.

dance of cranesmatter of malicehideawayvantage point