Zondervan Signs ‘Queen Sugar’ Star

In a world rights deal brokered by Leticia Gomez of Savvy Literary Services, Zondervan acquisitions editor Andy Rogers bought the first book by actor Dondré Whitfield, best known for his role on the OWN Network series, Queen Sugar. Slated for publication in spring 2020, the yet-to-be-titled book draws on Whitfield’s work with The Manhood Tour, an initiative to help men become effective leaders. It will explore myths about masculinity from a faith-based perspective.

‘Real Life Love’ Comes to FaithWords

Senior editor at FaithWords Keren Baltzer bought the first book by Michael Gibson, the grandson of the late Gary Smalley, who wrote popular books on marriage such as The DNA of Relationships (2004). Real Life Love features spiritual wisdom for millennials about relationships and marriage, according to the publisher, and it’s scheduled for publication in summer 2019. Literary agent Roger Gibson represented the author in the world rights deal.

Chapman Reups with Harlequin

Steve Laube of the Steve Laube Agency sold world rights to senior editor Melissa Endlich at Harlequin’s Love Inspired line for six new books in the Indiana Amish Brides series by Vannetta Chapman. The romance titles are slated for publication every six months starting in fall 2019.