Deals – Feather Flores

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Deals are ordered by approximate publication date. Click any deal to bring up a scrollable, in-page gallery.

Feather Flores while at Chronicle acquired world rights to The Rise (and Falls) of Jackie Chan author Kristen Mai Giang's (l.) picture book biography Michelle the First: How Action Hero Michelle Yeoh Danced, Acted, and Dreamed Her Own Path, illustrated by Kuri Huang. This true story follows the rise of the Malaysian Chinese movie star from the ballet stage, to the action-packed sets of Hong Kong, to the dazzling lights of Hollywood, as she broke new ground while staying true to her creative self—even, and especially, in situations where she found she was the "only one." Publication is set for spring 2025; Erin Murphy at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Sally Heflin at Heflinreps represented the illustrator.

Feather Flores while at Chronicle bought world rights to When Twilight Comes, a nonfiction picture book by Marcie Flinchum (l.), illustrated by Michelle Morin; Melissa Manlove will edit. The book is about crepuscular animals and plants, as seen in one day from dawn to dusk. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Roseanne Wells did the deal while at the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, and the illustrator represented herself.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has won, in a six-figure auction, A Prince Among Pirates, a queer YA romance by debut author Katie Abdou, pitched as Our Flag Means Death for fans of F.T. Lukens and Aiden Thomas, with the irreverent voice of My Lady Jane, in which a foppish nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026; Keir Alekseii at Azantian Literary did the deal for North American rights.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought world rights to Alight: How the Red-Crowned Parrot Found a New Place to Belong by Jennifer Torres (l.), illustrated by Molly Magnell, a nonfiction picture book about how the Red-Crowned Parrot, originally native to Mexico, learned to survive and thrive in new environments in the U.S. as a naturalized species. Publication is slated for fall 2025; Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the author, and Christy Ewers at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has won, in a five-house auction, Australian storyboard artist Ranran Zhou's graphic novel debut, a middle grade tentatively titled Momo, and a sequel. Both books star precocious young witch Momo Lim, who lives in a retirement home for magical creatures and yearns to become a detective like her late father; in book one, Momo bites off more than she can chew by trying to solve a poisoning that takes place at a garden party. Publication of the first book is scheduled for 2026; Britt Siess at Britt Siess Creative Management did the two-book deal for North American rights.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Seven: The Courage, Artistry, and Teamwork of BTS by literary scholar Lilly Lu, illustrated by Maja, in their middle grade debut. This retrospective, made by fans for fans, explores the history of the K-Pop group and shows how the dreams of seven boys from Korea became the dreams of millions of fans around the world. Publication is set for 2026; Brent Taylor at Triada US represented the author, and the illustrator was unagented.

Sophia Jimenez while at Atheneum has acquired world rights to A Good Night, Una Nochebuena, a picture book by Latinx Kidlit Book Festival co-founder Ismée Williams (l.), illustrated by Erika Meza (To the Other Side), in which a shy Latine narrator and their family take in a group of tourists stranded by a blizzard and celebrate Christmas Eve with them. Feather Flores will edit; publication is planned for fall 2026. Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret represented the author, and Claire Cartey at Holroyde Cartey represented the illustrator.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought the first two books in Triona Murphy's debut middle grade series The Wandering Shop. In the first book, Socks & Secret Quests, an 11-year-old apprenticed to a traveling magical shop that equips adventurers for epic quests enlists a squabbling team to help rescue her mentor from a dark wizard, and discovers that her cozy comfort knitting might be the magical gift that saves them all. Publication will begin in fall 2026; Rebecca Eskildsen at Writers House negotiated the deal for world English rights.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought, at auction, in a two-book, six-figure deal, a dystopian middle grade duology by Shanna Upchurch. Pitched as Alone meets The City of Ember, the first book, A Garden Lost, follows a girl with an affinity for gardening as she and other artisan children board a mysterious billionaire's massive ship to survive a world-ending flood—and soon realize the real danger may lie within. Publication will begin in spring 2027; Emily van Beek and Estelle Laure at Folio Jr./Folio Literary Management negotiated the deal for world English rights.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has acquired, in a preempt, world rights to Like a Mother Bear by poet and educator Mary E. Cronin (l.), illustrated by J Yang (If You're a Kid Like Gavin). This nonfiction picture book biography celebrates the life of PFLAG founder, queer rights activist, and loving mother figure Jeanne Manford, told in a mix of prose and quotes from the letters Jeanne wrote to and received from queer kids across the country. Publication is set for spring 2027; Lori Steel at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and the illustrator represented himself.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought, in a preempt, the first two books in an early graphic novel series by author-illustrator Erin Barker (Mr. Pumpkin's Tea Party). The first book, Hugo and the Pirates, follows the adventures of Hugo the sloth and the quirky pirate crew of the Black Pearl, for fans of Ben Clanton and Geronimo Stilton. Publication is planned for spring 2027 and spring 2028; Natascha Morris at the Tobias Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has acquired world rights, at auction, to Swim Like Them by PB Rising Stars Mentorship Program co-founder Ebony Lynn Mudd (l.), illustrated by Matt Williams. Pitched as 1619: Born on the Water meets Jabari Jumps, this stereotype-busting picture book follows a Black child learning to swim and drawing power from the truth that Black Americans have always been deeply connected to the water. Publication is set for early summer 2027; Erin Murphy while at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Alexandra Levick at Writers House represented the illustrator.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has acquired world rights to My Mind Is an Ocean by Chloe Ito Ward (l.) (Made for More), illustrated by Wastana Haikal (Street Puppy; Masjid Cat), a picture book in which a child with ADHD celebrates the unique complexity of their brain through empowering ocean metaphors. Publication is planned for 2027; Heather Cashman at Storm Literary represented the author, and Aliza Hoover at the CAT Agency represented the illustrator.

Feather Flores at Atheneum has bought, in an exclusive submission, Flipturns, a YA graphic novel by Andi Porretta (Ready or Not). Pitched for fans of the Tamakis and set in the suburbs of Philadelphia, this queer love story follows two girls who strike a deal to swap tutoring for swim coaching, only to fall hard into a first love neither of them saw coming. Publication is scheduled for summer 2028; Natascha Morris at Tobias Literary Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.

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