Ania Poranek's WHERE THE DARK STANDS STILL sold to Penguin UK in six-figure deal
We are delighted to announce that Penguin UK has acquired Ania Poranek’s debut, Where the Dark Stands Still in a six-figure deal. Carmen McCullough, Editorial Director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Catherine Cho at Paper Literary, on behalf of Victoria Marini at Irene Goodman. The deal was struck in collaboration with Karen Wojtyla, VP and Editorial Director at Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, who bought North American rights. Both editions will publish simultaneously in Spring 2024.
Where the Dark Stands Still is a beautifully written and evocative reimagining of Beauty and the Beast which weaves dark fantasy and gothic romance infused with polish folklore. This epic romantic story is perfect for fans of Adalyn Grace’s Belladonna, The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden and Gallant by V.E Schwab.
Raised in a small village near the spirit-wood, Liska Radost knows that Magic is monstrous, and its practitioners, monsters. After Liska unleashes her own powers with devastating consequences, she is caught by the demon warden of the wood – the Leszy – who offers her a bargain: one year of servitude in exchange for a wish.
Whisked away to his crumbling manor, Liska soon discovers the sinister roots of their bargain. And if she wants to survive the year and return home, she must unravel her host’s spool of secrets and face the ghosts of his past.
Those who enter the wood do not always return . . .
Ania Poranek says: “I am so excited to be able to share this story with the world and to work with Carmen McCullough, Karen Wojtyla and the teams at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. As a Polish girl who grew up in Canada, the stories of Polish folklore were something I knew from childhood memories of my grandparents’ bedtime stories. Writing this book allowed me to delve so much deeper into my culture and being able to share that with new readers is a dream come true.”
Carmen McCullough, Editorial Director, says: “I could talk endlessly about this unique and powerful story that instantly captivated the whole team. I fell in love with Ania’s writing from the very first page – from the moment Liska stepped into the woods to begin her strange magical journey. I was fascinated to learn about polish folklore, enthralled by the magic and completely swept up in the most breathtaking love story. This is a truly special book and Ania is an incredible new YA talent that we can’t wait to launch next year.”
Ripley Parker to Adapt LIES WE SING TO THE SEA for Archery
We are delighted to announce that LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is to be adapted for film. Emily Hayward-Whitlock at The Artists Partnership represented the film rights on behalf of Paper Literary. From The Hollywood Reporter:
Fast-rising writer Ripley Parker, whose first TV project Everything Now (previously entitled The Fuck It Bucket) is launching on Netflix later this year, is set to adapt YA fantasy novel Lies We Sing to the Sea for film with the rights acquired by Kris Thykier’s U.K.-based banner Archery Pictures.
The debut novel of Sarah Underwood, Lies We Sing to the Sea is a magical coming-of-age drama set in a sun- and blood-soaked Ancient Greece, inspired by the myth of Penelope’s hanged maids. In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of 12 young women, a tithe to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a magical island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that she has been chosen by the Gods to break Ithaca’s curse. Leto must return home and kill the prince.
Snapped up in a pre-empt by Farshore in the U.K. and its sister company HarperCollins Children’s Books in the U.S., the book published March 16 in the U.K., while in the U.S. it has already reached number two on the Indie Bestseller list and number 9 on the New York Times‘ best-seller list in its first week of publication.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with these characters,” said Parker, who’s the daughter of Thandiwe Newton and Oli Parker. “To be handed someone else’s story for safekeeping is such a beautiful responsibility, and I only hope I can do it justice. It’s a truly incredible book, and Sarah is obviously prodigiously talented. The world will very soon be clamoring for more of her words. I’m so thrilled to be working with her, and all the wonderful folks at Archery.”
Added Underwood: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Lies We Sing to the Sea is being adapted for film, and I cannot imagine a better home for it than at Archery Pictures. It’s been wonderful to see Ripley’s enthusiasm for this project; I know that Leto, Melantho and Mathias are in the very best of hands.”
Archery Pictures recently produced John Madden’s World War II spy drama Operation Mincemeat, starring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen and Kelly Macdonald, while on the TV side it produced two seasons of Netflix hit Fate: The Winx Saga, and three seasons of Riviera for Sky Atlantic.
“Both Ripley and Sarah are formidable talents,” said Thykier. In Lies We Sing to the Sea, Sarah has taken something old and familiar and made it dazzling and new. Ripley’s fresh and original voice was our first and only choice for the adaptation. We feel incredibly honored and very lucky to be working with them both. They are the very brightest of stars.”
The deal was brokered for Underwood by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership on behalf of Catherine Cho at Paper Literary, and for Parker, by Charlotte Knight at Knight Hall Agency.
The debut novel of Sarah Underwood, Lies We Sing to the Sea is a magical coming-of-age drama set in a sun- and blood-soaked Ancient Greece, inspired by the myth of Penelope’s hanged maids. In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of 12 young women, a tithe to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a magical island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that she has been chosen by the Gods to break Ithaca’s curse. Leto must return home and kill the prince.
Snapped up in a pre-empt by Farshore in the U.K. and its sister company HarperCollins Children’s Books in the U.S., the book published March 16 in the U.K., while in the U.S. it has already reached number two on the Indie Bestseller list and number 9 on the New York Times‘ best-seller list in its first week of publication.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to have been entrusted with these characters,” said Parker, who’s the daughter of Thandiwe Newton and Oli Parker. “To be handed someone else’s story for safekeeping is such a beautiful responsibility, and I only hope I can do it justice. It’s a truly incredible book, and Sarah is obviously prodigiously talented. The world will very soon be clamoring for more of her words. I’m so thrilled to be working with her, and all the wonderful folks at Archery.”
Added Underwood: “I’m absolutely thrilled that Lies We Sing to the Sea is being adapted for film, and I cannot imagine a better home for it than at Archery Pictures. It’s been wonderful to see Ripley’s enthusiasm for this project; I know that Leto, Melantho and Mathias are in the very best of hands.”
Archery Pictures recently produced John Madden’s World War II spy drama Operation Mincemeat, starring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen and Kelly Macdonald, while on the TV side it produced two seasons of Netflix hit Fate: The Winx Saga, and three seasons of Riviera for Sky Atlantic.
“Both Ripley and Sarah are formidable talents,” said Thykier. In Lies We Sing to the Sea, Sarah has taken something old and familiar and made it dazzling and new. Ripley’s fresh and original voice was our first and only choice for the adaptation. We feel incredibly honored and very lucky to be working with them both. They are the very brightest of stars.”
The deal was brokered for Underwood by Emily Hayward Whitlock at The Artists Partnership on behalf of Catherine Cho at Paper Literary, and for Parker, by Charlotte Knight at Knight Hall Agency.
LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is a New York Times and Indie Bestseller
We are thrilled to say that Sarah Underwood’s LIES WE SING TO THE SEA has debuted at #9 on the New York Times‘ bestseller list and #2 on the Indie Bestseller List. Many congratulations to Sarah!
LIES WE SING TO THE SEA publishes today 16th March 2023 in the UK, with a wonderful line-up of publication events.
About LIES WE SING TO THE SEA:
In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of twelve maidens, a gift to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a long-forgotten island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that there’s only one way the curse can be broken. Leto must kill the last prince of Ithaca . . .
A reclamation of a story from thousands of years ago, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is about love and fate, grief and sacrifice, and, ultimately, the power we must find within.
Sarah Underwood's LIES WE SING TO THE SEA publishes in the US
Our very first Paper Literary deal – Sarah Underwood’s dazzling debut novel, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA publishes in the US today! The UK publication is the following week on 16th March. We are so delighted for Sarah and wish her a very happy publication.
A lead title from HarperTeen and Electric Monkey, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is a fantasy romance, inspired by Greek mythology and the tale of Penelope’s twelve hanged maids.
It’s received some wonderful quotes:
”A lovely, lyrical fantasy which takes the fate of the hanged maids of the Odyssey and weaves something brand new. A story overflowing with emotion and full of magic.”
Jennifer Saint, internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Elektra
“Lies We Sing to the Sea is a lyrical, elegant debut bursting with imagination and heart. Underwood expertly weaves a tale about the inevitability of fate—and the love that makes us rail against it anyway. Bittersweet and wholly cathartic.” Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
“A wondrous tale of love, death, and sacrifice. The vivid characters give depth and adventure to a story with roots in classic Greek mythology.” Natasha Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of Skin of the Sea
In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of twelve maidens, a gift to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a long-forgotten island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that there’s only one way the curse can be broken. Leto must kill the last prince of Ithaca . . .
A reclamation of a story from thousands of years ago, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is about love and fate, grief and sacrifice, and, ultimately, the power we must find within.