Emily Bestler preempted U.S., Canadian, and open market rights to She Fell Away by Lenore Nash (pictured l.) for her eponymous imprint, in a two-book deal, from Alexandra Machinist at CAA. The series starter, per the publisher, finds female sleuth and diplomat Lake Harlowe “drawn into the tangled disappearance of an 18-year-old singer-songwriter in New Zealand and her connection to a dead NFL player, forcing Harlowe to confront her own cultish Alaskan past in order to interpret the clues the missing girl left behind.” Publication is set for next March.

Jesse Shuman at Dell purchased North American rights, at auction, to J.K. MacLaren’s debut romance, Full Throttle, and two sequels, Shifting Gears and Looking to Score, from Stuti Telidevara and Peter Knapp at Park, Fine, and Brower. The publisher called the series a “rivals-to-lovers, second-chance romance set in the high-stakes, glamorous world of Formula One racing that follows the first female driver’s rookie season as she contends with skeptics and her new teammate, the Prince of Racing, who broke her heart years ago.” Imogen Nelson at Transworld picked up U.K. rights, at auction, with Bhavna Chauhan at Doubleday Canada taking Canadian rights. Publication is set for summer 2026.

Jessica Tribble Wells at Thomas & Mercer acquired world rights to Ransom by Leslie Wolfe, in a two-book deal, from Robert Gottlieb at Trident Media Group. The publisher called the book “a fast-paced, addictive thriller about a sophisticated socialite who manipulates the rich—only to be framed for murder.” Publication is set for next summer.

Suzanne O’Neill at Grand Central took world rights to 100 Rules for Living: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life by Dick Van Dyke from Ian Kleinert at Paradigm Talent Agency. In the autobiographical collection of “life advice, stories, and reflections,” per the publisher, the 99-year-old entertainer reflects on “how he’s maintained good health and a zest for life” and “reveals his secrets for maintaining your joie de vivre, staying physically healthy, and making the most out of the life you’ve been given.” Publication is set for November.

Molly Turpin at Random House secured North American rights, at auction, to Instar by Sabrina Imbler from Ayesha Pande, who has an eponymous shingle. The book, the publisher said, explores “the biology of insects, molting, and metamorphosis alongside Imbler’s meditations on transitioning, stages of life and death, and relationship to disgust—reflecting on the simple but profound truth that no body is fixed in time and that we are all, always, in the process of becoming ourselves.” No pub date has been set.

In Brief

  • Nancy Siscoe at Knopf netted U.S., Canada, and nonexclusive open market rights to The Rose Field by Philip Pullman, the finale of his Book of Dust series, from Caradoc King of A.P. Watt at United Agents, for an October release.

  • Jennifer Klonsky at Dial acquired U.S. and open market rights to a third Gruffalo picture book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler from Macmillan Children’s Books UK, for publication in September 2026.

  • Chelsea Cutchens at Hyperion Avenue bought world English rights, at auction, to Caroline Mason’s “messy, hopeful coming-of-age debut,” An Endless Cycle of Evenings, from Mackenzie Williams at Janklow & Nesbit. Publication is set for spring 2027.

  • Maria Gomez at Montlake took world English rights, in a six-figure deal, to Penelope Sky’s Roman Republic series, in which “a heartbroken woman’s Sicilian getaway turns fiery when she falls for the leader of a secret society of Roman gladiators,” from Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group, for a June 2026 release.

  • Katherine Leak at Rodale bought world rights, at auction, to Bring Back the Dinner Party by sisters Hanna Ray Flores and Lea Raymond from Andrianna deLone at CAA. Pub date TBD.