November saw another increase in deal activity, with 2,224 deals, compared to 2,030 in October and 1,460 in September. The consistent rise suggests increased publishing activity as the year progresses, likely due to year-end submissions and planning for upcoming releases.
It may be too early to call it, but it looks as though Middle Grade Fiction peaked in 2024 in October, likely due to shifts in seasonal focus. And steady growth in Audiobook deals underscores a continuous shift towards multi-format offerings.
There was a significant decline in debut author deals, diverging significantly from earlier trends. This shift could also be due to seasonal priorities within the publishing industry, where year-end efforts often focus on established authors and high-profile projects to align with budget finalizations and upcoming release schedules.
Additionally, publishers may reduce risk late in the year, favouring predictable returns over debut authors. The competitive holiday season and preparations for spring releases further contribute to the reduced opportunities for debut voices in November.
Genres Experiencing the Most Activity in November
Fiction remains the most active genre, particularly in international rights, with just over 560 deals. This genre continues to command global demand, frequently securing significant deals.
Adult General Fiction, Mystery/Crime (specifically, whodunits and literary thrillers featuring clever detectives unraveling gripping murder mysteries), and Romance, continue to dominate with diverse themes and coplex characters. Publishers are picking up sweeping stories about love, self-discovery, and exploring uncharted emotional or physical territories.
In Children’s fiction, publishers are seeking stories that inspire:
Picture Books: Stunning illustrations paired with diverse and educational themes are in high demand. Creativity and accessibility are key.
Middle Grade Fiction: Adventure and resilience shine here. Stories about kids overcoming challenges in fantastical or imaginative settings are especially popular.
Young Adult Fiction: Think intense, emotional, and character-driven stories that delve into themes like identity and coming-of-age—often with a twist of fantasy or dystopia.
Non-fiction continues to thrive, offering readers insights and perspectives across a variety of topics:
Science/Technology: Saw steady growth, with November securing almost 40 deals compared to just over 20 in October and September.
Memoir and Self-Help: Maintained consistent activity, reflecting ongoing reader interest in personal and practical narratives.
History: Academic rigor meets engaging storytelling. Publishers want historical works that make the past feel alive for today’s readers.
Audiobooks continue to boom! Series potential is a huge plus, especially in thrillers, romance, and literary fiction. New trends are creating exciting opportunities for writers to carve out their niche in Emerging Genres:
Romantasy: Romance meets fantasy in epic love stories set against vividly imagined worlds.
Graphic Novels: Publishers are eager for adventurous, visually dynamic stories—perfect for younger readers or fans of alternative storytelling.
Television Rights gradually increased over the months (nealy 300% growth from September to November), indicating growing interest in adapting literary works for screen.
Debut Author Trends
Debut author representation was minimal in November, comprising only 1.4% of total deals. This sharp decline compared to earlier months reflects industry priorities shifting toward established voices as publishers close out the year and focus on known quantities for upcoming seasons.
Memoirs and illustrated works remained sought after, particularly those with unique perspectives or tied to current societal themes.
Romance and subcategories like "romantasy" and cozy escapism continued to show consistent activity.
The decline in debut deals from October to November is evident across most categories.
Categories like Children's: Picture Book, Adult Fiction: Romance, and Non-Fiction show varying levels of activity month to month.
Audiobooks and Other categories remain consistently low for debut deals.
Agencies and Agents Securing Major or Significant Deals
Some agencies to keep an eye on include Literatura Agency, who continues to emerge as a major player, with significant activity in securing international rights deals across multiple genres. Their robust global presence underscores their capability in representing authors internationally.
Dystel Agency and Salomonsson Agency demonstrated consistent success, particularly in fiction genres. Both agencies frequently represented authors with cross-market potential, focusing on projects that appeal to diverse audiences.
2 Seas Agency played a key role in international markets, excelling at securing multi-territory deals. Their strategy highlights a commitment to representing works with broad, global resonance.
SBR Media was notably active in both fiction and non-fiction, reflecting their versatility and ability to meet market demands across varied categories.
Jane Rotrosen Agency showed significant involvement in genres like romance and thrillers. Their activity underscores their ability to navigate competitive, high-demand genres effectively.
Geographic Markets
North America leads in securing initial deals, with particular focus on non-fiction and speculative fiction
In Europe, Germany, France, and the UK are prominent buyers of translation rights, particularly in children’s and literary fiction.
In Asia, Japan shows growing interest in children’s literature, while South Korea focuses on self-help and non-fiction titles.