We are thrilled for Matt James who has seen great success with The Funeral, his first book as both illustrator and author. Not only has the children’s book stacked up five starred-reviews, it received a lovely mention in The New York Times piece “How Do You Talk to Children About Death? These Books Can Help.” “James has an ear at child level and beautifully and convincingly shows us children who fidget during the service and consider a mourner’s hairy ear perhaps more than they think about the deceased. But they are not completely irreverent, just children, who are full of life.”
We are delighted to share this starred review from Publishers Weekly for David Chariandy’s award-winning novel, Brother. “Chariandy imbues his resilient characters and their stories with strength, dignity, and hope. This is an impressive novel written by an author in total command of his story.”
Reka Simonsen at Atheneum made a six-figure, two-book pre-empt for THE VERY, VERY FAR NORTH by Dan Bar-el, author of Audrey (Cow). The middle grade novel features a charming polar bear named Duane finding his place in the world, illustrating how friendship both overcomes and celebrates differences, akin to a contemporary Winnie-the-Pooh. Publication of the first volume is planned for fall 2019: Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists brokered the deal for world rights on behalf of the author; Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary negotiated on behalf of Kelly Pousette, who will illustrate.
Kyo Maclear and illustrator Rashin Kheiriyeh’s STORY BOAT, a lyrical picture book about a girl and her younger sibling who try to figure out where and what home is as they make the journey to their new country, to Tara Walker at Tundra Books, for publication in January 2020, by Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists (World).
An imaginative new picture book collaboration between author Sara O’Leary and illustrator Rosie Winstead, MARIGOLD AND THE GIANT GIRL, about a doll whose life changes when a little girl becomes the new owner of her dollhouse, to Tara Walker at Tundra Books, for publication in Fall 2019, by Jackie Kaiser of Westwood Creative Artists, (World).
Winner of the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing and author of Walls, Marcello Di Cintio’s Pay No Heed to the Rockets, a political-literary travelogue that reveals a more complex story to the Palestinian experience as seen through the lens of authors, books, and literature, once again to Dan Smetanka at Counterpoint, for publication in September 2018, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists. Canadian rights previously to Susanne Alexander at Goose Lane, for publication in April 2018, by Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists. UK & Commonwealth (excl. Canada) rights to Elizabeth Briggs at Saqi, for publication in May 2018, by Carolyn Forde on behalf of Jackie Kaiser at Westwood Creative Artists.
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.
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).
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, 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.
We 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
When the Moon Comes by Paul Harbridge and illustrated by Matt James
The 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.
Congratulations to Trevor Cole, whose book The Whisky King: The Remarkable True Story Of Canada’s Most Infamous Bootlegger And The Undercover Mountie on His Trail won the 2018 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Nonfiction Crime Book.
The Arthur Ellis Awards, established in 1984 and named after the nom de travail of Canada’s official hangman, are awarded annually by the Crime Writers of Canada.