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In this edition of the Transatlantic newsletter we are happy to update you on our latest deals and the awards and citations our clients have earned. The year is off to a great start with several rights sales for Jean Meltzer's THE MATZAH BALL, the exciting acquisition of REHEARSALS FOR LIVING by Robyn Maynard and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, an incredible run on the Canadian bestseller lists for Jesse Thistle's FROM THE ASHES, and GUANTANAMO VOICES by Sarah Mirk was chosen as a New York Times Best Graphic Novel of 2020. We're also pleased to announce the promotion of Léonicka Valcius to Literary Agent. Since joining Transatlantic in 2018, Léonicka has grown an impressive list of commercial and genre fiction and select non-fiction.
We've hit our groove with Zoom meetings and are happily connecting with editors, co-agents, and scouts from all over the world. Feel free to reach out to any of us to schedule a meet and greet with our team.
You can expect our next round of newsletters in the Spring. In the meantime, feel free to follow our growing Instagram page for the highlights! Wishing you the best,
Marilyn Biderman, Shaun Bradley, Sandra Bishop, Evan Brown, Laura Cameron, Andrea Cascardi, Brenna English-Loeb, Rob Firing, Carolyn Forde, Devon Halliday, Samantha Haywood, Fiona Kenshole, Chelene Knight, Amy Tompkins, Tim Travaglini and Leonicka Valcius
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New Deal Announcements
 North American rights to K.S. Covert's debut novel, THE PETTING ZOOS, pitched in the vein of Blindness and Never Let Me Go, about a newspaper reporter in the years after a pandemic who investigates an underground network of petting zoos where people go to experience human touch, sold to Russell Smith of Dundurn Press by Samantha Haywood and Laura Cameron for Spring 2022 publication. Film: Dana Spector/CAA.
 Governor-General's-Award-shortlisted author Jill Frayne's first novel SAY I AM has been acquired by NeWest Press, for publication in 2022. SAY I AM features counsellor Helen Cotillard, who meets fifteen-year-old Gale when she walks into Helen's Whitehorse office, accompanied by her step-mother, suffering from post-traumatic stress. In beautiful prose, Jill Frayne shows the reader both the difficult landscape of the north, and the damaged landscapes of two human hearts. Amy Tompkins handled the deal for World English rights.
 Steerforth Press has acquired US rights to TOUFAH: The Pageant, the President, and the Woman Who Inspired an African #MeToo Movement, by Toufah Jallow written with executive director of the MFA Program in Creative Nonfiction at the University of King's College, Halifax, Kim Pittaway, a story of personal struggle and triumph, recounting Toufah's journey from pageant winner in her native Gambia; to survivor of sexual assault committed by the President of Gambia, the notorious dictator Yayeh Jammeh; to refugee; and now, international activist and spokesperson against sexual violence. Rights sold previously to Random House of Canada, for publication in the fall of 2021. Contact: Marilyn Biderman.
 North American English rights Jennifer Manuel's THE MORNING BELL BRINGS THE BROKENHEARTED, in which a woman feeling overwhelmed by the challenges of teaching in a remote west coast community becomes entangled in a mysterious quest by her students, involving a woman in a box with a baby; but when strange and tragic events start to haunt everybody, she must discover who is driving them all into danger before she can finally understand how to connect with her students; set in the same Indigenous community as her Ethel Wilson Award-winning and bestselling debut THE HEAVINESS OF THINGS THAT FLOAT, sold to Anna Comfort O'Keeffe at Douglas & McIntyre, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2021. Photo credit: Nick Caumanns. Contact: Carolyn Forde.
 Judith McCormack, author most recently of the novel, Backspring, published in 2015 by Biblioasis, has written THE SINGING FOREST, which follows the life of a member of Stalin's police force who participates in atrocities in Belarus after an horrifically abusive childhood, and the young lawyer who prosecutes his extradition for war crimes committed decades earlier. The novel explores the nature of evil, the efficacy of the law in addressing it, and the strange twists and turns of fate that lie beyond our control. Biblioasis will publish in North America in the fall of 2021. Contact: Marilyn Biderman.
 Jean Meltzer's THE MATZAH BALL, an #OwnVoices romcom about a chronically ill "nice Jewish girl" with a secret career as a bestselling Christmas romance novelist who is forced to write the first Hanukkah romance, sending her for inspiration to the Matzah Ball, a high-end Jewish music celebration run by her summer camp archenemy, has sold to Anna Boatman at Piatkus (Little, Brown) in the UK, in a two-book deal; to Lovereads, a division of Bonniers in Sweden; and to Aufbau in Germany. Rights: [email protected]. Film and television: [email protected] and [email protected]. Jean Meltzer is represented by Marilyn Biderman and Carolyn Forde.
 Creator of the TV series Little Mosque On The Prairie and author of the memoir Laughing All the Way to the Mosque Zarqa Nawaz's tentative title THE RISE AND FALL OF D.I.C.K., a darkly comic novel about a disillusioned American Muslim woman-armed with only sarcasm and an arcane knowledge of American foreign policy debacles-who becomes embroiled in an international plot to infiltrate D.I.C.K (Dominion of the Islamic Caliphate and Kingdoms), and in the process, reconnects with her loved ones and her faith, to Pilar Garcia-Brown at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's Sugar23 imprint, in a pre-empt, for publication in spring 2022, by Samantha Haywood (World exc. Canada). Canadian rights to Laurie Grassi at Simon & Schuster Canada.
Non-Fiction
 Appetite's Lindsay Paterson has acquired world rights to photographer and food blogger extraordinaire Murielle Banackissa's AROUND THE WORLD VEGAN: RECIPES INSPIRED BY RUSSIA, CONGO AND CANADA, a remarkable fusion of three cuisines for the vegan lifestyle, inspired by the food she ate growing up in Montreal with a Russian Ukranian mother and Congolese father. The deal was arranged by Rob Firing.
  Susanne Alexander and Matt Halliday at Goose Lane Editions acquired Canadian rights to Globe and Mail Architecture Critic and author of Toronto Architecture: A City Guide Alex Bozikovic's and artist Raymond Biesinger's 261 LOST BUILDINGS OF CANADA for publication in the spring of 2022. This extraordinary collection features Biesinger's artistic recreations of iconic, vanished buildings, with Bozikovic's descriptions. Photo credit for Alex Bozikovic image (left): Vik Pahwa. Contact: Rob Firing.
 World rights to Pailin Chongchitnant's PAI'S EVERYDAY THAI COOKING, her followup to her bestselling cookbook Hot Thai Kitchen, have been sold to Robert McCullough and Zoe Maslow at Appetite, by Rob Firing and Samantha Haywood. Chef and YouTube sensation Pailin Chongchitnant delivers traditional, mouthwatering Thai family recipes that we can prepare any day of the week, including handy tips on Thai ingredients and prepping ahead.
 World English rights to award-winning educator, consultant and co-founder of Anima Leadership, Shakil Choudhury's DEEP DIVERSITY: A Compassionate Road Map to Racial Justice, blends the principles of compassion, justice and psychology--essential ingredients for both learning and long-term change- to create a road-tested method that helps us identify, understand and tackle the hidden ways in which racism shows up in society today, in our organizations and within ourselves; sold to Jennifer Croll at Greystone Books for publication in fall 2021, by Léonicka Valcius and Samantha Haywood.
 English North American rights to GOOD BURDENS by Christina Crook, an insightful follow-up to The Joy of Missing Out that makes the case for increasing intentionality in our day-to-day lives, while offering concrete solutions for flourishing in the digital age and advocates for a realignment of our energies, online and off, towards effortful pursuits-cultivating relationships, community, and creative projects that bring lasting joy, sold to Nimbus Publishing managing editor Whitney Moran for October 2021 publication by Samantha Haywood.
 North American English rights to INCONCEIVABLE: My Epic Journey Through Infertility and What You Can Learn From It by Alex Johnston, for readers of issue-driven, inspirational, bestselling memoirs such as A Good Wife, From the Ashes and The Rules Do Not Apply, a heartfelt memoir that compassionately and powerfully addresses the pervasive and growing issue of women's infertility through the very real lens of Alex Johnston's harrowing personal story, sold to Ken Whyte at Sutherland House by Samantha Haywood for publication on May 4, 2021.
  Lynn Henry, Publishing Director at Knopf Canada has acquired REHEARSALS FOR LIVING by Robyn Maynard, author of Policing Black Lives, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, author, most recently, of Noopiming: A Cure for White Ladies. The book is an exchange between two of Canada's most important contemporary thinkers, authors, and activists-one Black and one Indigenous, both women and mothers-on the subject of where we go from here: part debate, part dialogue, part familial correspondence between two writers sending notes to each other under stay-at-home orders during the stormy present; articulating Black and Indigenous perspectives on our unprecedented here and now, the long history of slavery and colonization that has brought us here, and what possibilities a post-pandemic future might hold. Publication in 2022. Mémoire d'encrier has acquired World French-language rights. Represented by Chelene Knight and Marilyn Biderman.
 Craig Pyette has acquired world English rights to Paul Palango's 22 MURDERS, an in-depth investigation into the tragic shootings that took place in Nova Scotia over two days, resulting in the death of 22 people, for publication in 2022. Contact: Rob Firing.
 World English ex. Canada and Canada English rights to first lady of Iceland Eliza Reid's SECRETS OF THE SPRAKKAR: How the Extraordinary Women of Iceland are Bringing Gender Equality Within Reach, a portrait of what it's like to live, work, and raise a family in Iceland, a nation that has topped the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index for the past eleven years, sold to Anna Michels of Sourcebooks and Justin Stoller and Nita Pronovost of Simon & Schuster Canada by Samantha Haywood for Spring 2022 publication. (Photo credit: Kristin Bogadottir)
  World rights to TRY THIS AT HOME by Daria Salamon and Rob Krause who, after spending a year travelling around the globe with their two young children, returned home trading their passports and Lonely Planet guides for garden stakes and thrift-store finds in an exploration of sustainable living from their own urban backyard, sold to Jamis Paulson of Turnstone Press by Samantha Haywood.
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Translation Deals
Fiction
 Karma Brown's RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE, to Central Media (Hungary), by Orsi Meszaros at Katai & Bolza, on behalf of Carolyn Forde. Karma Brown's RECIPE FOR A PERFECT WIFE, to Akapit Press (Poland), by Martyna Kowalewska at Book/lab Literary Agency, on behalf of Carolyn Forde.
 LUCKY by internationally bestselling author Marissa Stapley, an irresistible story of a female con artist with a heart of gold who finds herself jilted and on the run from the law with a winning lottery ticket in her back pocket, to Moonhak Soochup Publishing (Korea, Rep), by Insoo Lee at Danny Hong Agency on behalf of Samantha Haywood with Laura Cameron.
Non-Fiction
 Russian rights to WAG: The SCIENCE OF MAKING YOUR DOG HAPPY sold to Mann Ivanov Ferber by the Van Lear Agency on behalf of Fiona Kenshole. Polish and Turkish rights also sold.
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Page Two Deals
 Polish rights to Craig and Debbie Lambert's THE MINDFUL COUPLE sold to Świat Ksiązki by Martyna Kowalewska at Book/lab Literary Agency. Russian rights to Scott Berkun's HOW DESIGN MAKES THE WORLD sold to Alpina by Olga Baykova at The Van Lear Agency, Simplified Chinese rights to Liaoning ST by Yijhen Lee at The Grayhawk Agency, Turkish rights sold to Yakamoz by Şafak Tahmaz at Kalem Agency.
 Russian rights to Melanie Deziel's THE CONTENT FUEL FRAMEWORK sold to Eksmo by Olga Baykova at The Van Lear Agency, Simplified Chinese rights sold to Huazhang by Jennifer Lee at The Grayhawk Agency.
Korean rights to Hannah Beach and Tamara Neufeld Strijack's RECLAIMING OUR STUDENTS sold to Hanmunhwa Multimedia by Insoo Lee at Danny Hong Agency, Polish rights to Szum Lasu by Ksenia Saladra at Book/lab Literary Agency.
 Ukrainian rights to Deborah MacNamara's REST PLAY GROW sold to Smaki Publishing by Evan Brown at Transatlantic Agency, Turkish rights sold to Erdem Yayinlari by Şafak Tahmaz at Kalem Agency.
Turkish rights to Tom Morin's YOUR BEST WORK to Yılkad Yayinlari by Şafak Tahmaz at Kalem Agency. Polish rights to Joey Remenyi's ROCK STEADY to Vital by Martyna Kowalewska at Book/lab Literary Agency.  Japanese rights to Jeff Booth's THE PRICE OF TOMORROW to Business Kyoiku Shuppansha by Megumi Sakai at Japan UNI Agency.
Turkish rights to Allan Dib's THE 1-PAGE MARKETING PLAN to Ithaki by Şafak Tahmaz at Kalem Agency.
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Drawn & Quarterly Deals
 Japanese rights to Adrian Tomine's THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG-DISTANCE CARTOONIST sold to Kokushokankokai by Megumi Sakai at Japan UNI Agency, Polish rights to Kultura Gniewu by Piotr Wawrzeńczyk at Book/lab Literary Agency.
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National Awards and Citations
 Congratulations to Gary Barwin. His debut novel, YIDDISH FOR PIRATES was longlisted for the 2021 Canada Reads competition. The 2021 theme focuses on "stories of perseverance, discovery, and resilience." Barwin's sophomore adult novel, NOTHING THE SAME, EVERYTHING HAUNTED: The Ballad of Motl the Cowboy will publish with Random House in March, 2021.
Congratulations to Genni Gunn on the nomination of her essay, "Birth Stones," for a Best American Travel Writing Award. Here is a link to the story: https://nowheremag.com/2020/04/birth-stones/
Genni is working on her next novel, which is set in WWII and its aftermath, in Britain and Italy. Genni is represented by Marilyn Biderman.
 DANCING AFTER TEN by Georgia Webber and Vivian Chong, and FRYING PLANTAIN by Zalika Reid-Benta, both Shortlisted for the 2020 Toronto Book Awards!
 GUANTANAMO VOICES by Sarah Mirk was chosen as a New York Times Best Graphic Novel of 2020. Published by Abrams, edited by Sarah, and visualized by a diverse group of artists, this brilliant piece of investigative journalism portrays ten people -- lawyers, members of the military and, crucially, detainees -- connected to America's grim facility in Cuba. It was also chosen by YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association 2020 as pick for the top ten graphic novels for teens, and received a starred review from Kirkus. Sarah Mirk is represented by Fiona Kenshole.
 Shani Mootoo's POLAR VORTEX was featured on Autostraddle's list of "67 of the Best Queer Books of 2020!
The Globe and Mail's 100 Favourite Books of 2020 featured Shani Mootoo (POLAR VORTEX), Catherine Bush (BLAZE ISLAND), Leanne Betasamosake Simpson (NOOPIMING: The Cure for White Ladies), Heather Smith (BARRY SQUIRES, FULL TILT), and Michael Kusugak (THE MOST AMAZING BIRD)!
 Jesse Thistle's FROM THE ASHES is the #1 bestselling book in Canadian Nonfiction for 2020!
AGNES, MURDERESS by Sarah Leavitt won the 2020 Vine Awards and won second place in the 2019 Alcuin Society Book Design Awards for Comics!
 WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HERE by Samra Habib and SMALL GAME HUNTING AT THE LOCAL COWARD GUN CLUB were listed as top books of 2020 by CBC and the Toronto Star!
Samra Habib and Kai Cheng Thom made Chatelaine's list of 2020 Women Of The Year!
Quill & Quire's "2020 Books of the Year" included an impressive round-up of authors, featuring some of our clients: Amanda Leduc, Rachel Matlow, Emily Urquhart, Canisia Lubrin, Damian Rogers, and Walter Scott (from Drawn & Quarterly).
 The film adaptation of I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS by Iain Reid has hit numerous "best of the year" lists and garnered awards and nominations including:
Rolling Stone's "The 20 Best Movies of 2020"
The Atlantic's "10 Best Films of 2020"
Independent's "The 10 Best Films of 2020, from Uncut Gems to Shirley"
IndieWire's "The Best Films and Performances According to Over 200 Critics from Around the World"
Boston Society of Film Critics: Winner of Best Screenplay
The Indiana Film Journalists Association IFJA: "'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' leads with 11 nominations"
I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS was also featured in this incredible, exclusive roundtable of four beloved indie filmmakers talking with Charlie Kaufman about what makes his latest film so unique: https://www.indiewire.com/.../im-thinking-of-ending.../
 MY YEAR OF LIVING SPIRITUALLY: ONE WOMAN'S SECULAR QUEST FOR A MORE SOULFUL LIFE by Anne Bokma has won two Hamilton Literary Awards! it took the prize in the non-fiction category, as well as the Kerry Schooley Book Award for the work most evocative of the Hamilton region.
WAG: THE SCIENCE OF MAKING YOUR DOG HAPPY by Zazie Todd is nominated for two awards by the Dog Writers Association of America. It has spent 4 week in the British Columbia bestseller list, and the author was interviewed in the Washington Post and New York Times.
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Iain Reid's I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS, to Alimi Mounir at Page Seven Publishing (World Arabic), by 
