I am happy to announce that we sold world English rights to SENSORY: LIFE ON THE SPECTRUM, a graphic novel anthology, to Andrews McMeel publishing, in a pre-empt deal for publishing in fall 2022.
Rebecca had spearheaded this idea as a Kickstarter, working with several autistic creators. Once the news got out, we had editors reaching out wanting to publish this fantastic anthology. I’m so proud of Bex and all of the contributors, they did such a beautiful job. I can’t wait for you all to get your hands on a copy.
So excited to announce that we sold Joanna Cacao’s THE SECRET OF THE RAVENS to Etch an imprint of HMH Kids! Planned release is for the fall of 2023. Be sure to add it to your GoodReads.
THE LEGEND OF KORA meets Netflix’s The Dragon Prince. In this Filipino-inspired middle-grade fantasy, when his twin sister is poisoned after a dangerous quest, Elliot, a homeless kid, will stop at nothing to save her.
After the death of their parents, homeless twins Elliot and Liza travel to the kingdom’s capital to hunt Raven Quests—magical tasks that will earn them money when successfully completed. But the King hates the poor, and after the twins are shunned for their obvious vagrancy, Elliot recklessly hunts down a perilous quest, hoping for a big purse. When Liza is poisoned by a giant and deadly Titan Snake, Elliot seeks the mysterious mage that created the Raven Quests for help. The mage’s motivation isn’t to help, and Elliot will need to choose between saving his sister or his freedom.
Joanna Cacao is a Canadian Filipino with a background in 3D Animation. She has taught classes in Manga and Comics and is an illustrator for the Native Winnipeg-based educational company Native Reflections. Her illustration work can be seen in multiple picture books, including THE LITTLE SISTERS series (Native Reflections, 2021), THE BANNOCK BUN MYSTERY (Native Reflections, 2021), and AJHA’S PICTURE DAY (Native Reflections, 2021).
So excited to announce that we sold Lee Mandelo’s SUMMER SONS, along with an untitled novella, to Tordotcom! Planned release is for the fall of 2021. Be sure to add it to your GoodReads.
“Andrew and Eddie did everything together, best friends bonded more deeply than brothers, until Eddie left Andrew behind to start his graduate program at Vanderbilt. Six month later, only days before Andrew was to join him in Nashville, Eddie dies of an apparent suicide. He leaves Andrew a horrible inheritance: a roommate he doesn’t know, friends he never asked for, and a gruesome phantom with bleeding wrists that mutters of revenge.
As Andrew searches for the truth of Eddie’s death, he uncovers the lies and secrets left behind by the person he trusted most, discovering a family history soaked in blood and death. Whirling between the backstabbing academic world where Eddie spent his days and the circle of hot boys, fast cars, and hard drugs that ruled Eddie’s nights, the walls Andrew has built against the world begin to crumble, letting in the phantom that hungers for him.”
Previous years have not treated me well (at least in my home life), and the second half of 2019 started looking up–on a personal and professional note. So, I am declaring 2020 to be a good year.
My mantra this year is, “speak it out loud, and it shall happen.” I’ll be working on talking about positivity and saying the things I want to happen. No more, “I can’t do this” or “I’m terrible at this.” Sort of like “fake it till you make it,” but I won’t be faking it. I am good at everything I put my mind to, and I will only get better.
Something that helped with this realization was a tarot reading I did for myself New Year Eve for the coming year.
Tarot for me is about looking within yourself, finding your intuition, and using the cards to help interpret that intuitive energy. When I have others read for me, I believe they are picking up on my energy. They use their own fine-tuned intuition to understand what I am having trouble doing myself.
I wanted to share my tarot reading, or at least part of it, with you.
Middle card is from The Raven Prophecy deck by Maggie Stiefvater, the two decks that create the circle are Antique Anatomy Tarot and Oracle of Oddities, both by Claire Goodchild, the final outer deck is the Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle by Siolo Thompson.
Mostly I want to focus on that middle card, my “theme of the year” card, The High Priestess. I get this card a LOT. So much so, that my partner, who is not really into tarot, mentioned how much I got that card when I told him. Lol.
The High Priestess is telling me that this year I will need to look within. Focus on me and what I can do for myself, not to worry about things out of my control. Our world is kind of in a sucky place right now. I can’t do much about that, but I can do what is within my power to help. Stay positive, VOTE, help others any way I can and be a good person.
The cards to the north, south, east, and west of the circle are personal. Dreams, career, relationship, travel, etc. Mostly these cards are telling me to enjoy life, material things are not needed, take time for myself, and trust myself.
The other cards that are in each corner are my spring, summer, winter, fall cards. These cards also match my theme for the year. Take time for me, trust myself, don’t be negative, etc.
With this reading and after a discussion with my partners, I felt that 2020 needed to be the year to stay positive. Work on being a light in a dark time, and I hope you will join me.
Literary Tara 