Hot Key Books acquires three books from 2019 CILIP Carnegie winner and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo
Georgia Murray, Commissioning Editor at Bonnier Books UK, and Jane Harris, Managing Director of Children’s Trade at Bonnier Books UK, have acquired three books by 2019 CILIP Carnegie winner and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo (The Poet X) in a six-figure pre-empt deal with Charlotte Bodman at Rights People for UK and Commonwealth rights. All three novels will be published under the flagship YA imprint Hot Key Books.
The first in the three-book deal is Acevedo’s debut novel With the Fire on High, the sumptuous story of seventeen-year-old Emoni as she juggles motherhood, school and her passion and talent for cooking. With the Fire on High is a richly told love letter to mothers, daughters and food; and a novel that showcases the tremendous versatility, depth and breadth of rising star Acevedo’s writing. With the Fire on High is to be published for the first time in the UK on 19th September 2019.
“I am delighted to be working with Hot Key and glad that we will endeavour together to bring my future novels to UK readers.”
Elizabeth Acevedo
The second book to be published is Acevedo’s deeply moving new novel in verse, Clap When You Land —iInspired by real-life events. In 2001 flight AA 587 was travelling to the Dominican Republic and crashed in Queens, New York, killing two hundred and sixty people; over ninety per cent of the passengers were of Dominican descent and returning home. Clap When You Land is a story of two sisters, one in the Dominican Republic, one in the US, who only become aware of each other’s existence when their father dies in a plane crash on his journey from one daughter to the other. A powerful novel exploring family, grief, loss and forgiveness and the bittersweet bonds that bind us. Clap When You Land is to be published in May 2020 in the UK, with simultaneous release in the US (HarperCollins).
“We are absolutely thrilled to be publishing Elizabeth’s next three books … Her wordplay and alchemy of narrative within her storytelling are sheer magic — she is a shining light whom we are very happy to share.”
Jane Harris, Managing Director of Children’s Trade, Bonnier Books UK
A third novel, currently untitled, will follow in 2021. The book will be published simultaneously in the US, continuing an exciting rise to stardom for Acevedo.
Elizabeth Acevedo said: “I am delighted to be working with Hot Key and glad that we will endeavour together to bring my future novels to UK readers.”
Charlotte Bodman, agent at Rights People, said: “Rights People are thrilled to be representing Elizabeth Acevedo and to see her incredible success this year. I am delighted that she has found such a passionate home at Hot Key.”
Jane Harris, Managing Director of Children’s Trade at Bonnier Books UK, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be publishing Elizabeth’s next three books — we have been admiring her from afar and now we have the opportunity to welcome her into the home of YA writing in the UK at Hot Key Books. Her wordplay and alchemy of narrative within her storytelling are sheer magic — she is a shining light whom we are very happy to share.”
“Elizabeth is an exceptional writer with a rare talent to speak to young readers; the passion, rawness and authenticity of her voice are remarkable.”
Georgia Murray, Commissioning Editor, Bonnier Books UK
Georgia Murray, Commissioning Editor at Bonnier Books UK, said: “Elizabeth is an exceptional writer with a rare talent to speak to young readers; the passion, rawness and authenticity of her voice are remarkable. We are so delighted to have her on the Hot Key list; to have the opportunity to bring her bighearted, heart-breaking and necessary stories to even more readers and to be her UK publishing home.”
About Elizabeth Acevedo
Elizabeth Acevedo is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the winner of the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, The Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award Prize for Best Children’s Fiction, and the Pura Belpré Award for a work that best affirms the Latinx cultural experience. She holds a BA in Performing Arts from The George Washington University and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland. Acevedo has been a fellow of Cave Canem, Cantomundo, and a participant in the Callaloo Writer’s Workshops. She is a National Poetry Slam Champion, and resides in Washington, DC with her partner.
