There are many versatile authors in publishing—but I’d venture to say that few of them have the range and scope of Elaine Vickers. From heartwarming middle-grade such as LIKE MAGIC, to evergreen picture books such as THANKFUL, to razor-sharp YA novels like FADEAWAY: Elaine knocks it all out of the park. So how fitting today to be celebrating not one, but TWO entirely separate book deals for this talented author. Here are the announcements, for your anticipatory delight . . .

A charmingly quirky, STEM-themed picture book:

Andrea Hall at Beaming Books has acquired World rights to Elaine Vickers’s next picture book, MAE AND GERTY AND THE MATTER WITH MATTER, with illustrations by Erica Salcedo, a story celebrating a love of siblings and science, and the things in our lives that truly matter. The deal was represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency for the author, and Erin Tisdel at Advocate Art for the illustrator, for publication in Fall 2023.

And a moving contemporary MG novel:

Catherine Frank at Peachtree has acquired World rights to Elaine Vickers’s middle-grade novel, HALF-MOON SUMMER, about two kids born on the same day in the same place, who are drawn back together twelve years later for a summer of long-distance running, tumultuous family events, and discovering the things that really matter. Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary Agency did the deal, for publication in summer 2023.

There you have it, folks! Please join me in making lots of space in the Elaine Vickers section of your bookshelf for what’s to come (and, spoiler alert: she’s not stopping anytime soon ;))

Congratulations, Elaine!

-- Joan