Publishing Industry Lowdown (Nov. 14-18)

It’s that day again–time for Sooz’s YA and MG Publishing Industry Lowdow. The general idea is that I share the biggest news in the young adult and middle grade publishing world each Friday–big deals, important changes, etc.

My source for deal news is Publishers Marketplace, which requires a paid subscription. As such I’m only sharing part of the information here–basically, just author names and pitches. If you want to know deal sizes (e.g. advances), editors, publishers, and agents, I highly recommend you sign up for PM–it’s totally worth the cost!

Now, let’s get started!!

Deals

C.J. Daugherty’s NIGHT SCHOOL, a psychological suspense thriller set at a mysterious boarding school where some of its students participate in secret night school activities,in a two-book deal, for publication in Summer 2013.

Mindy McGinnis’s young adult NOT A DROP TO DRINK, the story of a teenage girl surviving in a rural America where an ounce of fresh water is worth more than gold and death wanders the countryside as thirst, cholera, and the guns of strangers; when her mother dies in an accident, the girl must decide between defending her pond alone or banding together with a crippled neighbor, a pregnant woman, a filthy orphan, and a teenage boy who awakens feelings she doesn’t understand, in a two-book deal.

Colleen Gleason’s young adult THE GASLIGHT GUILD series, set in a steampunkish Victorian London in which a teen duo are enlisted by Irene Adler and the Crown to help investigate the disappearance of London’s young elite, in a two-book deal.

NYT bestselling author of the Perfect Chemistry series Simone Elkeles’ first two books in her young adult FULL RIDERS series, about high school football players from diverse backgrounds who seem to have gotten a “full ride” in life but whose lives are more complex than they seem, finding love where they least expect it and managing personal challenges on and off the field.

Holly Goldberg Sloan’s young adult COUNTING BY SEVENS, the story of a young genius growing up in the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in California; left an orphan because of an accident, she encounters a cast of eccentric characters on her quest to find meaning in her uncharmed life, pitched as part “Little Miss Sunshine,” part “The Royal Tenenbaums,” for publication in 2013.

NYT, WSJ, and USA Today bestselling author Ally Carter’s sixth and final novel in the Gallagher Girls series, and the third novel in the Heist series.

David Almond’s young adult THE TRUE TALE OF THE MONSTER BILLY DEAN, pitched as inspired by the Kaspar Hauser legends: a young man tells of his years as a secret child, shut away from harm, and of emerging later – a saint, an angel, a monster – into a world darkened by war, for publication in Fall 2013.

Sarah Watts to illustrate Claire Legrand’s middle grade THE CAVENDISH HOME FOR BOYS AND GIRLS, which centers on a sinister orphanage that makes children prettier, smarter, and more obedient, for publication in Fall 2012.

Over the Hedge co-creator Michael Fry’s illustrated middle grade novel THE SAFETY PATROL, about three misfit 8th graders forced into the school’s lamest club, The Safety Patrol, who become the school’s unlikeliest heroes.

Angela Townsend’s young adult AMAROK, set in a remote Alaskan town, when a runaway is kidnapped by an evil man and his black wolf, whom she later discovers is a boy enslaved by an ancient shaman; she must find the strength to save herself and the wolf, and in turn discover what love truly means.

RAYMOND AND GRAHAM series author Mike Knudson’s middle grade ZEKE WILSON’S GUIDE TO MIDDLE SCHOOL, the first four books in a new series, a humorous look at middle school and the rules of coolness seen through the eyes of quirky kid Zeke Wilson.

David Kelly’s Books 6 through 9 in middle grade THE BALLPARK MYSTERIES chapter book series, in which two kids visit a city or ballpark (with their sports journalist mother) and become enmeshed in a mystery or suspicious event.

Bonnie Shimko’s young adult THE VOICE IN MAGGIE FEIGENBAUM’S HEAD.

Tara Fuller’s young adult INBETWEEN, in which a young reaper who falls in love with a girl whose soul he’s been sent to take not once, but twice, must sacrifice everything to protect her from the evil he unknowingly unleashed by altering her fate, in a three-book deal, for publication in Summer 2012.

(Source: Publisher’s Marketplace)

Other News

No one is happy about the Amazon Library Lending–at least on the author/publisher side of things. The Author Guild has now voiced their own concerns.

Feeling generous? Thanksgiving is just around the bend (if you’re from the US, at least). Here are 10 charities to promote literacy, OR maybe you can donate your old ereaders to American troops. Seeing as I’m eyein’ a new Kindle for Christmas, you can BET I’ll be donating my old one.

The dude who plagiarized (and whom we all declared revulsion and horror over last week) has offered an explanation for his actions. Huh.

Need some NaNo help? Here’s a really COOL cheat sheet for your NaNo (or any writing) needs.

Wanna learn more about all the steps in publishing? Check out this amazing series of videos: the Life Cycle of a Book.

And, I’m sure you’ve all seen it, but I’ll leave it for you anyway…The Hunger Games trailer! Some people are “meh” about it, but I personally really liked it. Gave me chills. Sure Gale and Peeta are hidious; I can live with that.

And, if you haven’t signed up for the chance to win a German advent calendar and assortment of German Christmas cookies. Just leave a comment!!

You tell me: Is there any industry news-bite I missed? Do you have an significant news you want to share?