We’re delighted to share that WCA author’s Susin Nielsen and Tiffany Stone have been shortlisted for the 2020 Chocolate Lily Book Awards! Nielsen’s No Fixed Address is a finalist in the Novel Category (Grades 4-7) and Stone’s Tree Song illustrated by Holly Hatam, is a finalist in the Picture Book category.
Created in 2002, the Chocolate Lily Book Awards strives to increase literacy for grade school children in British Columbia while celebrating BC authors and illustrators.
Kent Monkman, a Cree artists widely known for his provocative interventions into Western European and American art history, has been selected to create two monumental paintings for The Met’s Great Hall. Mistikôsiwak (Wooden Boat People) will run from December 19, 2019 to April 12, 2020.
This installation is part of a new series of contemporary activations at The Met in which the Museum invites artists to create new works of art inspired by the collection, establishing a dialogue between the commissioned works, the collection, the space, and audiences.
Sarah Atkinson of Tyndale has acquired world rights to Ottawa-based editor of Faith Today Karen Stiller’s THE MINISTER’S WIFE, an insightful, moving and often humorous memoir that explores balancing expectations and crises of all kinds including those of faith in her role as a minister’s spouse with her own identity and path to self-fulfillment. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists negotiated with deal, with publication slated for spring 2020.
Gail Anderson-Dargatz’s THE CURE FOR DEATH BY LIGHTNING, to Partizanska knjiga (Serbia), by Vuk Perisic at PLIMA Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson’s EMPTY PLANET: THE SHOCK OF GLOBAL POPULATION DECLINE, to Les Arènes (France), by Anna Jarota at Anna Jarota Agency; and to JP Sluzbeni glasnik (Serbia), by Vuk Perisic at PLIMA Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.
Yann Martel’s BEATRICE & VIRGIL, to Alatoran (Azerbaijan), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Yann Martel’s LIFE OF PI audio rights, to Planeta/Destino (Spain), by Sandra Bruna at Sandra Bruna Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Josef Škvorecký’s THE BASS SAXOPHONE radio rights, to Radio Literatura (Poland), by Tomasz Bereziński at Graal Literary Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists.
Richard Wagamese’s INDIAN HORSE and MEDICINE WALK, to Blessing Verlag (Germany), by Hannah Fosh at Liepman Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for John Pearce.
CBC News executive and Toronto Star contributor Cathrin Bradbury‘s THE BRIGHT SIDE: RELEARNING THE ART OF OPTIMISM AFTER A BROKEN YEAR, a frank, digressive, funny and inspiring voice-driven memoir that describes how a modern person’s life can change utterly in a single year, even, or perhaps especially, when she is in her pre-dotage years, to Nicole Winstanley and Diane Turbide at Penguin, for publication in Spring 2021, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists (Canada English).
Troy Wilson (Dog vs. Ultra Dog)’s GOLDIBOOKS AND THE WEE BEAR has been acquired by Running Press Kids for publication in fall 2020. The picture book inverts the classic tale to feature an inquisitive, book-loving bear who raids Goldi’s house for something to read. Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the author in the world rights deal.
We are thrilled for authors Tasha Spillet and David A. Robertson, both 2019 Manitoba Book Award Winners. Spillet took home the Manitoba Indigenous Writer of the Year Award, presented to an Indigenous writer who demonstrates excellence in writing and engagement in work that supports and encourages Indigenous writing in Manitoba. Robertson, who was also a finalist for the Writer of the Year Award, received the McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award for Monsters, the second book in his YA trilogy.
Thomas King‘s DreadfulWater mystery series, to Alire (French in North America), by Anna Jarota at Anna Jarota Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Jackie Kaiser.
Patricia Joudry and Maurie Pressman’s TWIN SOULS, renewed by Ankh Hermes (Netherlands), by Stijn De Vries at Marianne Schonbach Agency, on behalf of Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
M.G. Vassanji’s THE BOOK OF SECRETS, to Mamdouh Adwan Publishing House (Arabic), by Meg Wheeler of Westwood Creative Artists for Bruce Westwood.
Douglas & McIntyre has aquired Canadian English rights to adventure traveller Bruce Kirkby‘s KINGDOM OF THE SKY: From Distraction to Stillness, a Family Journey in the Forgotten Himalaya, a memoir which focuses primarily on the Kirkby family’s three months spent living amongst the Lamas of Zanskar Valley, and explores the themes of modern distraction, the loss of ancient wisdom, and the author’s personal coming to terms with his elder son’s diagnosis on the autism spectrum. The deal was arranged by Anna Comfort O’Keeffe at D&M and John Pearce and Chris Casuccio at Westwood Creative Artists for Fall 2020 publication.
Katie Hearn at Annick Press acquired world rights to Tiffany Stone’s new picture book TALLULAH PLAYS THE TUBA, about a diminutive but resourceful girl determined to master her favourite instrument, for publication in October 2019. Hilary McMahon of Westwood Creative Artists represented Stone on the deal. Sandy Nichols was brought on board by Annick to illustrate.
Anna Comfort O’Keeffe at Douglas & McIntyre has acquired North American English-language rights to three novels (two adult and one YA) by Charles Demers, author of Property Values. The two adult novels are mysteries featuring a psychiatrist, Acadian-born Dr Annick Boudreau, as the detective. Each mystery in the series will spotlight a different mental-health issue. PRIMARY OBSESSIONS and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS will be published in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The YA book, entitled THE GODSON, features a young boy who is fighting back against bullying and prejudice at a US military base where his father, a former mobster who has enrolled in Witness Protection, is being held. Deals for all three books were arranged by John Pearce of Westwood Creative Artists.
