Publishing Industry Lowdown (April 16-20)

It’s that day again–time for Sooz’s YA and MG Publishing Industry Lowdow. The general idea is that I share all the deals I know 0f in the young adult and middle grade publishing world each Friday.

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!

It has been a really quiet week, but let’s get started, shall we?

Deals

Skila Brown’s middle grade SLICKETY QUICK, a collection of silly and safe-scary poems, each poem about a different breed of shark.

Jennifer Armentrout’s SENTINEL, the fifth and final book in the Covenant Series.

WIG IN THE WINDOW author Kristen Kittscher’s middle grade sequel, TIARA ON THE TERRACE, in which tween sleuths must go under deep cover as pages in their town parade’s “royal court” to find clues and stop a murderer.

Debut author Ari Goelman’s middle grade THE PATH OF NAMES, about an aspiring magician at a Jewish summer camp who must solve a 72-year-old supernatural murder mystery, for publication in 2013.

Megan Miranda’s young adult VENGEANCE, a companion novel and sequel to FRACTURE, in which the lake that claimed victims appears to be cursed as more tragedy unfolds, raising the question of whether a character’s strange affinity with the dying is something even more sinister, for publication in Winter 2014.

BUTTER author Erin Lange’s young adult BILLY D. & THE BULLY, about two very different boys who reluctantly team up to find somebody who doesn’t want to be found; their only clue is an atlas full of riddles, for publication in Fall 2013.

Jennifer Armentrout’s young adult SENTINEL, the fifth and final book in the Covenant Series, for publication in Fall 2013.

Christopher Pike’s next book in the young adult THIRST series and next book in the WITCH WORLD series.

Sherry Kyle’s middle grade THE CHRISTIAN GIRL’S GUIDE TO LIFE, an advice book that focuses directly on a Christian girl’s daily life and points to Scripture to answer life’s tough questions, for publication in Fall 2013.

Amy Herrick’s young adult THE TIME FETCH.

Bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare’s first full-length collaboration, a five-book middle grade fantasy series starting with THE IRON TRIAL, about a twelve-year-old boy who grown up knowing three rules by heart –Never trust a magician; never pass a test a magician gives you; and never let a magician take you to the Magisterium — but is about to break all the rules, and his life will change in ways he can’t possibly imagine, for publication beginning in 2014.

(Source: Publisher’s Marketplace)

Other Stuff

Publishing seems to have been a bit quiet this week–at least the sites I typically follow haven’t had too much to say. Nathan Bransford over on CNET wrote a great article about the cost of ebooks, and why they aren’t that much cheaper to produce than print books. (Okay, so the article is a wee bit old, but it didn’t hit my radar until this week. Sorry.)

In a similar vein of publishers-losing-their-minds, you can read one author’s speculation on WTF happened over the last 50 years that led to publishing being the incredibly inefficient industry that it is.

Now, I loved Sh*t  Girls Say as much as every other woman out there, but…landing a book deal? With Harlequin, no less? I’m not really sure I understand how the content of this book can possibly add anything to the movies, BUT I guess we’ll see soon enough since it’s scheduled to release this fall.

As quite an avid (read: rabid) fan of original James Bond movies and even the novels (FYI, Ian Fleming had some serious woman-hate. I don’t know how the 13-year-old me stomached those books.), the fact that Amazon has acquired the rights to reissue the books is…well, kind of cool. I guess. Maybe. I mean, it’s Amazon, and we all hate Amazon…but it’s also James Bond, so sexist bigot or not, I’m glad to see the Spy Who Loved Me back with a View to a Kill (haha, bad 007 humor).

Pottermore opened to the general public! Woohoo! Everyone seems enthralled and addicted, which is why I am staying away. Perhaps one day, when I have less demands on my time, I too will finally delve into this world that has everyone so excited. And…sudden epiphany: this must be why there were so few deals reported this week! The publishing industry has been so enmeshed in Pottermore that they haven’t had time to sort (haha) new books!

In more Harry Potter news, ye olde J.K. has announced that a Harry Potter Encyclopedia will be coming. Very. Cool. Well, very cool except for the fact that she estimates it might take her up to 10 years to produce. 🙁

And, the winner for the most disturbing news of the week goes to U Star Publishing, who offer personalized classic novels. Yes, that’s right, now YOU can star in Pride & Prejudice.

You tell me: Did I miss any important info or great news to share?