Erin Murphy Literary Agency

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Exciting New Graphic Novel Series Coming from Jarod Roselló!

Mar 2nd, 2021

Do you love young comics? Do you love humor, heart, and fantastic art? Well then, I have news for you: You might know Jarod Roselló as the talented author-illustrator behind RED PANDA AND MOON BEAR, but in recent months he has been very hard at work preparing something entirely new. Today, this new series is officially being announced . . . and here are the details:

Whitney Leopard at Random House Graphic has preempted World rights to RED PANDA AND MOON BEAR creator Jarod Roselló’s HUGO AND DINO. The chapter book graphic novel series follows a boy who can change the world around him just enough to go on all types of magical adventures with his best friend, Dino. The three-book deal was managed by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency, and the first book will publish in Fall 2023.

That is right, folks—a preempt, as this property was swooped right off the submission-table by an editor who could not resist its pull  The insanely talented Jarod is in finer form than ever in launching this new series, as he introduces us to some unforgettable new characters and prepares to send them on one adventure after another. Won’t you come along for the ride? It’s going to be epic!

Huge congratulations on the new books, Jarod!!

- Joan

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Feb 26th, 2021

If you know Tamara Ellis Smith at all, you know that she is a heart-out person. She wears her heart where everybody can see it, and everything she does is connected to her heart.

This is as true of her writing as anything else, of course.

Tam started writing a manuscript about grief a couple of years ago when her family had lost some loved ones unexpectedly. GRIEF IS AN ELEPHANT wound its way through the revision and submission process and finally landed with Victoria Rock at Chronicle, who continued to work with Tam on it until she was ready to make an offer.

In a tragic twist, Tam’s father suddenly developed cardiac issues and was hospitalized. She read him the manuscript as he lay dying, and within a few days, we had the offer from Victoria to publish this picture book—which now, of course, has even more meaning than it did before. I know that Tam’s loss and her aching heart will lead her to comfort for her readers, and they in turn will comfort others, and so on. To quote Tam’s text, “Listening becomes light."

Victoria signed the remarkable Nancy Whitesides (represented by Rebecca Sherman at Writers House) to illustrate. In the story, grief evolves, first appearing as an elephant, and ultimately in the form of a firefly; we can’t wait to see Nancy bring her own heart to the visuals of this story. It is scheduled to release in spring 2023.

Many congratulations to you, Tam.

—Erin

Elaine Vickers Is Sharing HOW TO MAKE A MEMORY

Feb 23rd, 2021

A JAWBREAKER OF A BOOK

Feb 23rd, 2021

Celebrating Anne Ylvisaker’s Debut Picture Book!

Feb 20th, 2021

WHAT’S UP, PUP?

Feb 18th, 2021

Another Picture Book to HeartDrum for Kim Rogers

Feb 12th, 2021