August in Thessaloniki. Image – Getty: Iuri Gagarin
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
See also: Frankfurt Rights Meeting Returns in Its Hybrid Format, Opening September 2
The Road to Frankfurt Begins With the Rights Meeting
A hot summer Rights Roundup can only be cooled by deal news from four of the Nordics, and in our roundup today (August 8), we hear from Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden—with some news from Italy, as well.
Frankfurt Rights Meeting Returns in Its Hybrid Format, Opening September 2. Image: FBM, Holger Menzel
While you’re here, be sure to check our story on this year’s Frankfurt Rights Meeting, which begins on September 2 with a session on AI licensing deals.
As before, the Rights Meeting this year is structured in four weekly digital sessions, followed by an in-person networking reception at Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 15 to 19). Registration for the Rights Meeting is open now.
And as always, our thanks to agents and rights directors who have shared deal information with us for today’s Rights Roundup.
As in each roundup, we use some of the sales copy supplied to us by agents and rights directors, editing that copy to give you an idea about a book’s nature and tone, but limiting the promotional elements. If you’d like to submit a deal to Publishing Perspectives, see the instructions at the end of this article.
The Levatrice
(The Midwife)
By Bibbiana Cau
- Publisher: Editrice Nord / GeMS Gruppo editoriale Mauri Spagnol, Milan
- Rights contact: Viviana Vuscovich, GeMS
- Book info: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – Greece: Psichogios
- Lithuania: Balto Publishing House
- Poland: Wydawnictwo Literackie
- Romania: Act si Politon
- France: Charleston
- Portugal: Presença
Bibbiana Cau
“In 1917, in the most rural part of Sardinia, Mallena is a charismatic midwife who, through herbs and ancient rituals, guides the women of Norolani through childbirth.
“The arrival of a modern obstetrician and the return of her husband, broken by war, upset her world.
“Amid rivalry, secrets, and female solidarity, tradition and progress collide. Angelica Ferrari arrives from the mainland. Although she’s young, she has long fought to be here, defying social convention and the disapproval of her father, who wanted her to be a wife and a mother. Now, however, she must face the wariness of the village women: despite the official prohibition, women still choose Mallena, partly because the new obstetrician uses modern methods like the forceps and doesn’t speak their language.
“Mallena and Angelica should be rivals, and yet they are two sides of the same coin: both are driven by a desire for freedom and independence, both are victims of the daily injustice the world serves women.”
Stormbound
(Den femte dagen)
By Åsa Hellberg
- Publisher: Forum / Bonniers Forlag, Stockholm
- Rights contact: Kaisa Palo, First Edition Management
- Book information: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – The Netherlands: De Geus
- Denmark: Politikens
- Finland: Gummerus
- Germany: Penguin Random House / Heyne
- Norway: Kagge
“A man has been found dead on Koster, a quaint string of islands on the border of Sweden and Norway. It’s the first murder case in the remote islands’ history.
“Seasoned investigator and islander Vega Varg, first responder at the scene recognizes the victim—the deceased man was best friends with her sons growing up and the Varg family once offered him a safe haven from his own abusive home.
“Who had wanted the little boy she once knew gone, and why?”
This is the first book in a series, “The Koster Killings.”
Il segreto di Villa Carlotta
(The Secret of the Villa Carlotta)
By Silvia Montemurro
- Publisher: Giunti Editore, Firenze
- Rights contact: LeeAnn Bortolussi, Giunti Editore (note: French, Spanish, Turkish, and film rights are handled by agent Loredana Rotundo)
- Book information: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – A French auction reportedly closes soon
- A film deal reportedly is incoming
” It is 1848 and Carlotta, daughter of Duchess Marianne Nassau, leaves Berlin to spend the summer on Lake Como, in Tremezzo. The lake is the most exclusive destination in Europe. Nobles, princes, and ladies gather there to organize receptions, strengthen friendships, and arrange marriages.
Silvia Montemurro
“At Como, Carlotta makes her debut in society: she is courted by some, but is intrigued with the elusive Duke of Saxony. He seems the only one who understands her thirst for life, yet he is insolent and surly, and for some obscure reason does everything to avoid her.
“What’s more, in the rooms of the villa, Carlotta finds the hidden diary of a young girl and is engaged by her tragic story. A legend hovers over the villa: on stormy nights, the ghost of a young girl runs through the corridors.
“This is the first volume of the saga The Villas on Lake Como : based on a true story, the passions and secrets of Charlotte of Prussia in the enchanting residence that still bears her name today.
The Bright Night
(Den lyse nat)
By Mikkel Fønsskov
- Publisher: Gads Forlag, Copenhagen
- Rights contact: Astri von Arbin Ahlander, First Edition Management
- Book information: Read more here
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – Germany: dtv
- Finland: Karisto
- Italy: Mondadori
- Sweden: Romanus & Selling
“In 1939, composer Oluf Ring starts a choir in rural Denmark, uniting townspeople in folk songs.
Mikkel Fønsskov
“Among them is Nete, a student hiding her Jewish heritage. She falls for Anders, young baritone whose mighty father despises the choir.
“As German troops arrive, the choir becomes a radio sensation, and people all over Denmark gather to sing.
“However, the occupying power sees the Danish singing as a provocation. Both Nete and Oluf are confronted with their own past, and this has disastrous consequences.”
Men Falling
By Ellen Sofie Lauritzen
- Publisher: Cappelen Damm, Oslo
- Rights contact: Ingvild Haugland Blatt, Cappelen Damm Agency
- Book information: Read more here
No rights sales reported to date.
“Journalist Selna Bru is at rock bottom as she awakens on her 40th birthday.
Ellen Sofie Lauritzen
“Then she receives some great news: The man who ruined her life, an author known as RT Remi, has fallen dead on the streets. For years, he ran an exclusive literary club in Oslo known as The Cave. There, in a back room, he allegedly drugged and raped five women.
“Now, Selna is given the opportunity to write a true crime piece about Remi’s life and death.
“This is Selna’s second chance, and her opportunity to have her revenge on Remi.”
This book is Lauritzen’s first novel. Previously, she has written nonfiction and a children’s book.
Stivens the Cat
By Ted Forsström
Illustrated by Åsa Lucander
- Publisher: Förlaget, Helsinki
- Rights contact: Elina Ahlback
- Book information: Read more here
Stivens the Cat is part of a three-book group, the other parts being Please, Stella, Stop Barking (by Forsström and Lucander) and The Vole and the Moon (by Mila Teras and Nora Surojegin).
Reported rights sales:
- Newest – English, United States: Spinning Wheel Stories (the three books)
- Denmark: Gads Forlag
- Estonia: Tammerraamat
- Germany: Mixtvision (Stella)
- Germany: dtv (Stivens)
- Hungary: Cerkabella (Stivens and Stella)
- Poland: Widnokrag
- Slovakia: Arkus
- Turkiye: Doğan Kitap (Stivens and Stella)
Ted Forsström and Åsa Lucander
“Have you ever thought how frustrating life can be for a cat? When something as simple as getting fed turns into a daily battle? For Stiven, the logic is simple: an empty bowl must be filled immediately. How can an entire family have such a hard time understanding this?
“The glutton Stiven is a stubborn drama queen, holding the whole family hostage with one mission: more food immediately—a tale of a perpetually hungry cat convinced he’s moments from starvation.
“Ted Forsström channels Stiven’s outrageous inner voice, while Åsa Lucander’s expressive illustrations heighten the humor and theatrical flair of a cat’s single-minded quest for food. Perfect for anyone who’s ever wondered what really goes on in a pet’s mind, or who’s been guilt-tripped to fill a bowl by a pleading stare.”
Submitting Rights Deals to Publishing Perspectives
Do you have rights deals to report? Agents and publishing-house 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
We look forward to hearing from you.
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