Frontlist | Young Inaugural Speakers Land Book Deals
Donald Trump’s presidency proved to be a cash cow for book publishers, what with all the books exploring various scandals by investigative journalists, the juicy tell-alls by White House insiders, and, of course, the satirical take-downs of Trump and his cronies, often disguised as children’s books. While Joe Biden’s presidency has barely launched, the publishing industry is already invested: Amanda Gorman, 22, the youngest speaker at Wednesday’s inauguration, and Brayden Harrington, 13, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, have just landed book deals resulting from their association with the new president. Coincidentally, the two share a common bond with Biden: Gorman suffered from a speech impediment as a child and Harrington stutters.
Viking Books for Young Readers announced late last week that it will publish on September 21, with a 150,000-copy first printing in hardcover, Gorman’s debut collection of poems for readers 14 and up, The Hill We Climb. The collection will include the poem Gorman recited during the inaugural ceremony, “The Hill We Climb.” Her debut picture book, Change Sings, illustrated by Loren Long, will be published the same day.
Source: Publishers Weekly