Mid-April 2021 News, Deals, Reveals, & More

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Book Deals

Ayesha Harruna Attah sold North American rights for THE DEEP BLUE BETWEEN coming spring 2022 from Carolrhoda.

Rhiannon Richardson sold a deal (world rights) for her contemporary novel, SWEET CHARITY coming spring 2023 from Simon & Schuster.

Destinee Schriner sold a nice world English rights deal for her debut, a contemporary novel, BLUEBELL coming spring 2022 from REUTS Publications.

Publisher Breakdown 2021 So Far

Available to Substack Newsletter Subscribers

Foreign Rights and Releases

WINGS OF EBONY by J. Elle sold to Turkey.

Cover Reveals

Brandy Colbert unveiled the cover for BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY: THE STORY AND LEGACY OF THE 1921 TULSA RACE MASSACRE (October 5, 2021).
- Graphic Design: Natasha Cunningham
- Cover Design: Corina Lupp

Pop Goes the Reader unveiled the cover for FOOLS IN LOVE, an anthology including short stories from Rebecca Barrow, Claire Kann, and Julian Winters, out December 7, 2021.
- Cover Design: Marissa Raybuck
- Cover Art: Abbey Lossing

Trailer News

Check out the trailer for MONSTER, coming to Netflix on May 7, 2021 based on the novel by Walter Dean Myers.

Awards/Honors

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé received a starred review for ACE OF SPADES from Publishers Weekly. Her book is also the first Illumicrate Book Box Pick of 2021.

Camryn Garrett received a second starred review for OFF THE RECORD, this one from Publishers Weekly.

Tracy Deonn‘s LEGNDBORN and Jordan Ifueko‘s RAYBEARER were chosen as Finalists for the 2021 Lodestar For Best Young Adult Book at the Hugo Awards.

Rhode Island Teen Book Awards announced the 2022 nominees including CLAP WHEN YOU LAND by Elizabeth Acevedo, GROWN by Tiffany D. Jackson, THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson, YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson, CHARMING AS A VERB by Ben Philippe, PUNCHING THE AIR by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, and STAMPED: RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.

Jacqueline Woodson has been tapped as the Artist in Residence at the Kennedy Center, during which two of her projects will be adapted for the stage.

Nicola Yoon received a second starred review for INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING, this one from Booklist.

General Updates

Note: To see the latest virtual events coming up, be sure to visit the Events page!

Before we get into the updates, we want to bring to your attention to a GoFundMe for an author in our community. Echo Brown (BLACK GIRL UNLIMITED) is currently fighting for her life. Her kidneys failed in March 2020 and she has been on dialysis ever since. She is in need of a kidney transplant and a GoFundMe has been put together for her medical bills. If you are able to support, you can do so here. Thank you.

Elizabeth Acevedo was featured in the New York Times to celebrate the paperback release of WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH.

Jemiscoe Chambers-Black has been matched as a mentee through Association of American Literary Agents.

Boston Public Library March 2021 Teens Staff Picks include WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo, THE VOTING BOOTH by Brandy Colbert, LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn, THE GILDED ONES by Namina Forna, THIS IS MY AMERICA by Kim Johnson, and THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas.

Buzzfeed shared 24 YA Romance Books Hitting Shelves This Spring That Are Delightfully Charming which include WHERE THE RHYTHM TAKES YOU by Sarah Dass, THE PASSING PLAYBOOK by Isaac FItzsimons, EXCUSE ME WHILE I UGLY CRY by Joya Goffney, MEET CUTE DIARY by Emery Lee, DON’T HATE THE PLAYER by Alexis Nedd, and SIMONE BREAKS ALL THE RULES by Debbie Rigaud.

Lane Clarke was chosen as a mentee for the Azantian Literary Agency Mentorship Program.

Saraciea J. Fennell was featured in the Latino Book Review’s list of 6 Contemporary Honduran Authors You Should Know.

Georgia Center For the Book announced the 2021 Books All Georgians and Young Georgians Should Read which include I’M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal and GIRLS LIKE US by Randi Pink.

The release date for EVERYBODY SHINES anthology, which includes short stories from Claire Kann, Francina Simone, Renée Watson, and Catherine Adel West, has been moved to May 25, 2021.

Sydnee Monday has been promoted to Associate Editor at Kokila.

Candice Montgomery was featured in Teen Vogue’s Queer Muslim Heroes to Celebrate This Muslim Women’s Day.

Kobo included THE COST OF KNOWING by Brittney M. Morris as one of the Best of Young Adult. The book also made the Editor’s Picks Best of Young Adult on Amazon.

Ciannon Smart‘s WITCHES STEEPED IN GOLD was featured in the March/April 2021 issue of Writer’s Digest Magazine.

We Need Diverse Books launched the Black Creatives Fund with Nic Stone and Karen Strong among others on the faculty.

ALA released the 10 Most Challenged Books of 2020 which include THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas and STAMPED: RACISM, ANTIRACISM, AND YOU by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds, ALL AMERICAN BOYS by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely. Speaking of banned books, EW announced that Jason Reynolds will serve as the inaugural Honorary Chair for the 2021 Banned Books Week (which takes place September 26, 2021 – October 2, 2021).

YALLWest released their schedule of events! Be sure to register for the panels you want to attend!

Podcasts

First Draft with Sarah Enni

Brittney M. Morris – April 8, 2021

April 2021 Joy

Brittney M. Morris, Author of THE COST OF KNOWING

Happy reading!

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