September saw about 1400 deals whereas this October saw approximately 2500, marking an increase of about 1,100 more deals in October, which is a 75% month-over-month increase.
It’s common for the publishing industry to experience a spike in deals in October, with a relatively quieter September. Here are some reasons why:
Publishers that aim to include titles in fall or winter catalogs for the following year actively acquire in October because of standardized release schedules.
Publishers often push through final acquisitions in October and early November to utilize their yearly budgets before they expire VS in September, where publishers review their mid-year financials and forecast remaining budget capacity, contributing to lower deal volume in September.
Industry events (ex. Frankfurt Book Fair) which often take place in October, play a significant role in driving deals. These events bring together publishers, agents, and authors, sparking acquisitions and rights sales that might result in a temporary spike.
The lead-up to end-of-year holidays influences deal timing, as many deals may be closed in October to avoid the holiday slowdown in November and December. October is a prime month for acquiring and announcing deals that align with popular reading seasons. Genres like horror, thriller, and holiday-themed fiction are in high demand during the fall, which can lead to more acquisitions in October for future seasonal releases.
For my MG writer friends: There’s a continued shift in middle-grade literature towards greater cultural inclusivity, an emphasis on personal and social identity, and the use of fantasy and mystery to explore real-world issues. The unique elements stand out by weaving in distinctive themes like conservation, disability representation, historical timelines, and medical mysteries, enriching the middle-grade landscape with diverse perspectives and innovative storylines.
Genres Experiencing the Most Activity in October
Fiction dominates as the most active genre, especially in international rights, with nearly 600 deals. It is the genre with the highest demand globally, frequently landing significant deals.
Romance continued to show consistent activity.
Non-Fiction follows closely with about 250 international rights deals, and non-fiction as a whole spans about 800 deals. Topics in this category see substantial demand, with particular interest in illustrated, memoir, and educational titles.
Children’s Literature is strong, encompassing nearly 450 deals, particularly in picture books and young reader categories. International rights are notably high in this genre, reflecting global interest in educational and accessible content for young audiences.
Audiobook Rights feature prominently, indicating a sustained interest in audio formats. Audiobooks are particularly sought after in fiction, non-fiction, and children's genres, aligning with consumer trends toward audio consumption.
Debut Authors in genres like mystery and romance saw steady demand, landing deals as publishers sought fresh voices. The romance market, in particular, remains resilient, with publishers and agents increasingly targeting "low-angst," cozy, or escapist sub-genres to cater to post-pandemic reader preferences.
In Non-Fiction, topics such as memoirs, illustrated works, and business were highly sought after. Non-fiction illustrated and educational books saw increased demand in international markets, and significant deals were common for memoirs covering unique perspectives or social issues.
Memoirs and Illustrated Works: Memoirs with strong social themes or unique perspectives found high interest, with solid deals often reported for narratives aligned with current societal issues. Illustrated works, especially those targeting young readers or providing visual insights into topics like nature and space, were popular among international buyers.
Self-help, Business, and Lifestyle categories saw multi-territory deals, particularly when tied to popular figures or influencers. The trend reflects a growing appetite for motivational and practical knowledge books, with publishers in Europe and Asia showing interest in titles that blend cultural relevance with universal themes of success, resilience, and wellness.
Despite the large spike in deals from September to October, relatively fewer of those deals were for Debut authors.
Debut writers of Mystery fiction saw notable success in September, as compared to October, and compared to other genres.Multi-book and internationally focused deals, emphasizing established authors and titles with broad appeal, contributed to this. In October, debut authors writing niche, specialty, and seasonal titles more suited for specific market cycles or year-end gift considerations (“Other” category), saw success.
This activity supports the general industry trend where genres like horror, thriller, and holiday-themed fiction are in high demand during the fall, which can lead to more acquisitions in October for future seasonal releases.
Agencies and Agents Frequently Securing Major or Significant Deals
Agents at these agencies often secured "significant" deals for authors with established track records. However, debuts also saw success, particularly if they aligned with market demand in high-interest genres.
Literatura Agency and SBR Media were highly active, especially in fiction and international rights. SBR Media has an active role in fiction and non-fiction, while Literatura Agency showed high international engagement.
2 Seas Agency and Salomonsson Agency maintained a strong presence in the market, frequently representing authors with series potential or cross-market appeal.
Geographic Markets Purchasing Rights
North America (U.S. and Canada): Remained dominant for initial rights sales, especially for English-language fiction and non-fiction.
Europe: Germany, France, and the UK were key buyers of international rights, particularly in genres like thriller, mystery, and children’s literature.
Asia: Japan and China showed continued interest in non-fiction and children’s literature, with a preference for motivational and educational titles.
Trends in Audiobooks, Non-Fiction, and Children’s Literature
Audiobooks are a growth area, especially in fiction and non-fiction genres. Authors with high-quality, narrative-driven works are likely to attract audiobook deals, given the rising consumption of audio formats. Deals frequently included audiobook rights, especially for business, self-help, and genre fiction titles.
Non-Fiction: Business and lifestyle topics continued to be strong, often securing "good" to "significant" deal sizes. Works connected to current societal or business insights, particularly those offering unique perspectives, were highly appealing.
Children’s Literature: Middle-grade series with adventurous or fantasy-driven plots showed potential for multi-book contracts, catering to a broad international audience. Picture books and illustrated young reader formats are prominent, reflecting a global interest in children’s educational content. Picture books with strong visual appeal are particularly well-suited for international and multi-territory deals.
There’s a shift in middle-grade literature towards greater cultural inclusivity, an emphasis on personal and social identity, and the use of fantasy and mystery to explore real-world issues. The unique elements stand out by weaving in distinctive themes like conservation, disability representation, historical timelines, and medical mysteries, enriching the middle-grade landscape with diverse perspectives and innovative storylines.
Multi-Book and Multi-Territory Patterns
Multi-book deals were common, particularly in middle-grade fiction and thriller genres, where series or multi-title potential was high.
Multi-territory deals also appeared in genres with cross-border appeal, such as non-fiction (business and memoir) and high-stakes thrillers. They’re still rare, with most international deals negotiated individually by territory. This suggests that publishers may prefer a localized approach, which could benefit writers who tailor pitches to specific cultural or regional markets.