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Melanin in YA News
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Book Deals
- Elise Bryant sold a two-book deal (North American rights), the first of which is a rom-com, REGGIE & DELILAH’S YEAR OF FALLING coming 2023 from HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray.
- Ronni Davis sold world rights for her contemporary novel, THIS NIGHT IS OURS coming 2023 from Little, Brown Children’s.
- Alisha Emrich sold world English rights to her contemporary romance, NERDCRUSH coming 2023 from Running Press Kids.
- In a preempt, Mina Fears sold North American rights to her fantasy, THE SCORPION QUEEN coming 2023 from Flatiron Books.
- Emery Lee sold world English rights to a contemporary rom-com, CAFÉ CON LYCHEE coming 2022 from Quill Tree.
- Brianna Peppins sold world rights for a two-book deal, the first of which is a contemporary, BRIARCLIFF PREP coming 2022 from Disney Hyperion.
- In a five-house auction, Bianca Xunise sold North American rights for a six-figure two-book deal, the first book a graphic novel, PUNK ROCK KARAOKE coming 2023 from Viking.
Publisher Breakdown 2021 So Far
- Available to Patreon and Newsletter Subscribers Only
Foreign Rights
- THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass sold to Brazil.
- BLOOD LIKE MAGIC by Liselle Sambury sold to Russia.
Tinseltown – Adaptation News
- Sony Pictures Television’s TriStar is creating a television series based on X: A NOVEL by Ilyasah Shabazz and Kekla Magoon and THE AWAKENING OF MALCOLM X by Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson. Shabazz, George Tillman, and others will executive produce. – Variety
Cover Reveals
- Sarah Everett unveiled the cover for HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU (May 17, 2022).
- Cover Artist: Cienna Smith

- Namina Forna unveiled the cover for the sequel to THE GILDED ONES, THE MERCILESS ONES (April 5, 2022)
- Illustration: Tarajosu

Bestseller Lists
NYT: THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass debuted at #6 on the August 1, 2021 List.
Buzz – Starred Reviews
Booklist: A CHORUS RISES by Bethany C. Morrow, REDEMPTOR by Jordan Ifueko
Kirkus: KNEEL by Candace Buford, BLACK BIRDS IN THE SKY by Brandy Colbert, BEASTS OF PREY by Ayana Gray, WHITE SMOKE by Tiffany D. Jackson
General Updates
- Congratulations, Rena Barron who is expecting!
- Long Beach Post featured Elise Bryant.
- Book Riot shared 12 LGBTQIA YA Audiobooks To Listen To in the 2nd Half of 2021 and included RISE TO THE SUN by Leah Johnson and THE TAKING OF JAKE LIVINGSTON by Ryan Douglass.
- Bustle listed ALL THE THINGS WE NEVER KNEW by Liara Tamani as one of the 18 Books That Will Help You Relax & Unwind Before Bed.
- Buzzfeed listed FULL DISCLOSURE by Camryn Garrett as one of the 21 YA Novels With Disabled And Chronically Ill Characters as well as YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN by Leah Johnson, MUTED by Tami Charles, EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds, THE BEAUTY THAT REMAINS by Ashley Woodfolk, and THE COST OF KNOWING by Brittney Morris in 17 YA Books That Will Make You Shed A Tear Every Time.
- The title of the sequel to LEGENDBORN by Tracy Deonn has been announced. BLOODMARKED is coming 2022.
- Epic Reads listed REDEMPTOR by Jordan Ifueko, (ME) MOTH by Amber McBride, and BAD WITCH BURNING by Jessica Lewis on their The 16 Most Anticipated YA Books to Read in August list.
- FOLD Kids’ 2021 Summer Reading List includes HURRICANE SUMMER by Asha Bromfield, SOME OTHER NOW by Sarah Everett, LIKE HOME by Louisa Onomé, & CHARMING AS A VERB by Ben Philippe.
- The authors of BLACKLIST took over Modcloth!
- SO MANY BEGINNINGS: A LITTLE WOMEN REMIX by Bethany C. Morrow is in its second printing already! Pre-order the book here.
- People of Color in Publishing and Latinx in Publishing collaborated on an online survey about workplace racism in the publishing industry.
- Scholarships are available for women of color to the Radical Craft Retreat which Sherri L. Smith will teach at this October.
Podcasts
- First Draft with Sarah Enni
- Isaac Fitzsimons – July 22, 2021
August 2021 Releases
August 3, 2021
Zion Unmatched by Zion Clark and James S. Hirsch
August 10, 2021
The Sisters of Reckoning by Charlotte Nicole Davis
August 17, 2021
Redemptor by Jordan Ifueko
(Me) Moth by Amber McBride
August 24, 2021
Bad Witch Burning by Jessica Lewis
August 31, 2021
Flyy Girls Tobyn: The It Girl by Ashley Woodfolk
Happy reading!
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