Authors and illustrators represented in this Rights Roundup are, upper row from left, Timothy Knapman; Joe Berger (image: Henning Loehlein); Pauline Harmange (image: Bénédicte Roscot); and Frédéric Lenormand (image: Roman Slocombe). And on the lower row, from left, are Marja-Liisa Plats; Triinu Laan; Jennie Lundgren; and Ulrika Lundgren Lindmark
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Take a Deep Breath
As you might have noticed—well, of course you have—people in many parts of the world seem to be filled with anger.There are violent outbursts occurring on airliners, particularly among passengers who dislike face masks.
There are terrible incidents of hate-driven attacks, often racially motivated and believed by many analysts to have been triggered in the minds of bigots by authoritarian political figures making it okay to act on their animosities.
Wednesday (June 2) in the United States was the second annual observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Americans who today (June 4) turn to the nonprofit, non-partisan, non-advocacy tracker Gun Violence Archive will Find it reporting 18,516 gun-violence deaths so far this year, many of them occurring in 244 mass-shooting incidents. Analysts are reporting huge purchases of guns in the United States during the constraints of the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, including many gun buys made by women, not just by men.
At the time of this writing, a quick scan of news services shows reports in the last 30 days on issues of violence, aggression, and anger not only in the States but also in Canada, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Syria, Mexico, China, Iraq, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Sweden, and—in the case of violence against women—seemingly everywhere.
So today, we’ll open our Rights Roundup by highlighting Sometimes I Am Furious by Timothy Knapman with illustrations by Joe Berger, a book that a lot of people may need to read in as many as languages as possible. It’s submitted to us by Marianne Fournier at Pan Macmillan in London.
In terms of rights sale, Fournier reports:
- Newest – Finnish: Kustannus Makela Oy
- Korean: Midnight Bookstore
- Italian: Francesco Brioschi)
- Chinese, traditional: Sun Ya Publications
- Hebrew: Matar Publishing House
In descriptive copy, Pan Macmillan Children’s Books writes, “Life is all fun and games when everything’s going your way. But some days, suddenly, something becomes horribly unfair. A melting ice cream, a too-tight T-shirt, a boy who doesn’t share. It’s enough to make you furious. But, as this little girl discovers, it’s nothing that a deep breath, a happy song, and a good cuddle can’t sort out. A funny, friendly and relatable book for young children (and their parents) about big emotions and how to handle them.”
The book, releasing on June 24, is rated for ages 3 to 5, and that seems to be just the level of maturity being exercised by many adults. I say we all read it.
An illustration by Joe Berger from ‘Sometimes I Am Furious’ by Timothy Knapman, publishing June 4. Image: Pan Macmillan Children’s Books
As in each roundup, we use some of the promotional copy supplied to us by agents and rights directors, editing that copy to give you an idea about a book’s nature and tone. If you’d like to submit a deal to Publishing Perspectives, see the instructions at the end of this article.
And speaking of strong emotion …
I Hate Men
(Moi les hommes, je les déteste)
I Hate MenBy Pauline Harmange
- Publisher: Éditions du Seuil, Paris
- Rights contact: Julie Finidori, Julie Finidori Agency
- Book info: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – Turkish: Can Yayinlari
- Castilian: Paidos
- Catalan: Columna
- Czech: Divus
- Dutch: Atlas Contact
- English (world rights): Fourth Estate and HarperCollins
- Finnish: Kunstantamo S&S
- German: Rowohlt
- Greek: Brainfood
- Hungarian: 21. Század Kiadó
- Italian: Garzanti Libri
- Japanese: Kadensha
- Korean: Pauline Publishing House
- Norwegian: Epic.no
- Portuguese (Brazil): Record
- Portuguese: (Portugal): Pergaminho
- Romanian: Cartea de Dupa
- Serbian: Besna Kobila
“What if women had good reasons to hate men? What if being angry with men led down a joyful and liberating path once you could express it?
“In this short essay, Pauline Harmange defends misandry as a way to make room for sorority as well as benevolent and meaningful relationships rising to our standards.”
In Marie-Antoinette’s Secret Service: The Du Barry Investigation Volume 1
(Au service secret de Marie- Antoinette)
In Marie-Antoinette’s Secret Service: The Du Barry Investigation Volume 1By Frédéric Lenormand
- Publisher: Editions de la Martinière Littérature, Paris
- Rights contact: Marleen Seegers, 2 Seas Agency
- Book info: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – Italy: Mondadori Libri (pre-empt)
- Serbia: Vulkan, Volume 1
“This series offers a tour through the Palace of Versailles’ many secret passages and tunnels. From behind her fan and ribbons, the queen keeps a keen eye on everything that’s going on at court.
“With the help of a picturesque pair of sleuths, a jewelry heist will be her first case. This droll, light-hearted novel introduces us to a cunning and manipulative Marie-Antoinette through the story of a truculent detective.”
John the Skeleton’s Goings-On
(Luukere Juhani)
John the Skeleton’s Goings-OnBy Triinu Laan
Illustrated by Marja-Liisa Plats
- Publisher: Paike ja Pilv, Saue
- Rights contact: Stephanie Barrouillet, SB Rights Agency
- Book info: Read more here
No reported rights sales as yet.
“When John the skeleton retires from the anatomy class of a large school, Grams, Gramps, and their grandchildren take him to live at the forest farm. “All the inhabitants seem to believe the skeleton is worthy of a free and wild childhood and old age.
“Triinu Laan addresses serious issues such as old age and death. Marja-Liisa Plats’ illustrations are a perfect addition.”
The book is a winner of the Tartu Children’s Literature Prize and is rated for readers 7 and older.
Where the Ice Breaks
(Där isarna råmar)
Where the Ice BreaksBy Lundgren & Lundgren
- Publisher: Albert Bonniers Forlag, Stockholm
- Rights contact: Johanna Lindborg, Bonnier Rights
- Book info: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – Norway: Vigmostad & Björke (Books 1, 2, and 3)
- Finland: Under offer
Where the Ice Breaks is the first book in a new series by debut authors Jenny Lundgren, a police officer, and Ulrika Lundgren Lindmark, an accountant.
“The series and its setting” near the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden, “combines the sometimes claustrophobic life of a tightknit community with the freedom and isolation of a desolate landscape.
“Between the breaking of the ice and arrival of spring, Irene is on a hunt to crack the disappearance of a missing boy. As new crimes unfold, she strives to integrate with her colleagues. Perfect for fans of Åsa Larsson’s Kiruna series and the snowy settings of Louise Penny.”
Submit Rights Deals to Publishing Perspectives
Do you have rights deals to report? Agents and rights directors can use our rights deal submission form to send us the information we need. If you have questions, please send them to Porter@PublishingPerspectives.com
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- Country, Language or Territory: Publisher
If we have used a submission from you in the past, please do not submit that same title again to us without an explanation of why you think it deserves another look.
We look forward to hearing from you.
More of Publishing Perspectives‘ rights roundups are here, and more from us on international rights trading is here.
More from us on the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on international book publishing is here.