Tinker Air Force Base is named after him, but how much do we really know about him? 

We will now. Kim Rogers and Bobby Von Martin highlight the story and legacy of Clarence Tinker and it is going to be amazing.

Rosemary Brosnan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at Heartdrum/HarperCollins have acquired world rights to I Am Osage by Kim Rogers (Wichita), illustrated by Bobby Von Martin (Choctaw). This nonfiction picture book biography focuses on Osage military hero Clarence Tinker. Publication is planned for Winter 2024. Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author; the illustrator represented himself.

Congratulations, Kim!

—Trish

I'm so over the moon about this illustration deal for debut artist Lauren Emmons! I think this is going to be such a fabulous pairing of text and art and I can't wait for readers to see the finished book in all its glory. Huge congratulations to all!

Jonah Heller at Peachtree has acquired world rights, in an exclusive submission, to Prak Fills the House by Kennedy Center teaching artist Donna L. Washington (l.), illustrated by debut artist Lauren Emmons. In this fractured fairy tale, Poppa Pig offers his house to whichever one of his three little pigs can fill it to the brim. Everyone assumes muscly Mo or beautiful Bo will do a fine job, but quiet and creative Prak might just surprise them all. Publication is set for spring 2024; Mary C. Moore at Kimberley Cameron & Associates did a two-book deal, and Tara Gonzalez at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the illustrator for one book.

Tara

It’s a speech that students never forgot. MLK Jr. coming to their classroom and speaking to them about their dreams. 

Who do you want to be? How do you get there? 

It’s inspiring, relevant, and thanks to E.B. Lewis’ illustrations, going to be once again available to students. I’m so excited!

Carolyn Yoder at Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, has acquired North American rights to The Dreambuilder’s Blueprint by Alice Faye Duncan (Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop, Evicted), illustrated by E.B. Lewis. This nonfiction picture book will be based on Dr. Martin Luther King’s talk What Is Your Life’s Blueprint? to junior high school students in Philadelphia six months before his assassination. Publication is planned for Fall 2025; Tricia Lawrence at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author; Jeff Dwyer at Dwyer & O’Grady represented the illustrator.

Congratulations, Alice Faye!

—Trish

There is something unparalleled about connecting a spectacular author with their first book deal—and this one is no exception! Susan Yoon joined my team at EMLA this year and absolutely swept me away with her gorgeous voice and heartfelt storytelling. The first picture book we sent out on submission was WAITING FOR TOMORROW, the story of two young sisters who are eagerly awaiting and planning a special surprise for their father’s return after a long time away.

As we all know, sometimes things in publishing can move very slowly. That was most definitely not the case here! To our great delight, just days after sending Susan’s this text on submission, we got an enthusiastic response back from an editor. Things continued to move along very quickly—with the result that this fantastic text was preempted by Grace Kendall at FSG! Talented artist Julie Kwon has now signed on to illustrate, and the whole thing will be heading to a bookshelf near you in Winter 2023. 

Hooray and huge congratulations, Susan!!

- Joan