Jazz Jennings has signed a memoir deal with the Random House Children’s Books imprint, Crown Books for Young Readers. She has also agreed to serve as the narrator for the audiobook edition of her book. This fifteen year old activist has become well-known as a prominent transgender advocate.
The publisher will release her memoir, entitled Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, on Jun. 7. Emily Easton, an executive editor, negotiated the deal with Joseph Veltre, a literary agent at The Gersh Agency. Easton will edit the manuscript.
Here’s more from the press release: “Named one of the 25 Most Influential Teens by Time the past two years and the star of the TLC docu-series I Am Jazz, Jazz Jennings transitioned to life as a girl, with the support of her parents, at the age of five…In Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, Jennings shares her very public journey and reflects on how these experiences have helped shape the mainstream attitude toward the transgender community. Now in high school, Jazz also addresses the physical, social, and emotional upheavals of adolescence, complicated by the unique challenges of being a transgender teen.”
Emily Trunko, the fifteen year old creator behind the Dear My Blank and The Last Message Received Tumblr pages, has signed a deal with Crown Books for Young Readers. Trunko plans to write two books based on both of her two websites.
Emily Easton, an executive editor, negotiated the deal with Heather Flaherty, a literary agent at The Bent Agency. The publisher will release both books in 2016.
Here’s more from the press release: “Trunko’s Dear My Blank Tumblr (dearmyblank.tumblr.com) launched in March 2015 and showcases anonymous letters that people never intend to, or don’t have the courage to, send—ranging in length from a single sentence to thousands of words, and covering a range of topics and emotions from heartbreak, unrequited love, betrayal, loss, self-awareness, courage, and pride. Over 20,000 anonymous letters from people of all ages have been submitted to the Tumblr, and about 100 new letters arrive every day…Upon the recent launch of her second Tumblr, The Last Message Received (thelastmessagereceived.tumblr.com), Trunko gained 40,000 followers in just three weeks, with nearly 5,000 messages coming in the last two weeks. The Tumblr showcases highs and lows of the human condition, sharing the last messages people received from someone significant in their lives—death, breakup, friendship ending, family fights, etc.”
Danica McKellar, an actress and mathematician, has signed an multi-book deal with Random House Children’s Books. She (pictured, via) plans to create eight math-themed children’s books.
Emily Easton, an executive editor at Crown Books for Young Readers, negotiated the deal with Kuhn Projects, LLC literary agent Laura Nolan. Easton will edit all of McKellar’s books. The first title will be released in Spring 2017.
Here’s more from the press release: “McKellar’s new titles from Crown will bring early math concepts to toddlers through third graders. She will introduce these basic concepts and skills in a fun and memorable way, with two separate series aimed at different age groups. The first will be a story-based picture book series for toddlers that parents can read to their children again and again. The books will show math as a natural part of life, in real-world scenarios and with adorable illustrations. Crown will also publish McKellar’s second series of titles, for second and third graders, which will tackle the math concepts that students at this age struggle with the most, in an entertaining and innovative format.”
Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, will publish a picture book entitled Dear Malala, We Stand With You.
The story is written as a letter addressed to education activist Malala Yousafzai (pictured, via). Executive editor Emily Easton managed the acquisitions process and licensed this property from a Canadian publishing house called Second Story Press. The book is set to come out on January 6, 2015.
Here’s more from the press release: “Written in the form of a photo-illustrated letter to Malala Yousafzai, two-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee, DEAR MALALA, WE STAND WITH YOU (by Rosemary McCarney and Plan Canada / Ages 4–8) is both a show of support and a call to action for girls around the world…In support of publication, Random House Children’s Books will make a donation to Plan International’s Because I am a Girl campaign, which aims to support millions of girls to get the education, skills, and support they need to transform their lives and the world around them.”
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