Jemiscoe Chambers-Black

Etta Easton's THE KISS COUNTDOWN, a rom-com about a down-on-her-luck entrepreneur who finds her feelings are all too real when she agrees to a fake relationship with an astronaut to help him reassure and distract his anxious family as he prepares for an upcoming moon launch. Berkley acquired in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, for six-figures, and will publish the first book in spring 2024.

Tanisia "Tee" Moore's WASH DAY, showcasing a sacred rite of passage in Black culture—the hair wash day routine—and on Saturday, it goes down in a girl's house, if momma can catch her. Scholastic will publish in spring 2025.

Pitch Wars alum Aurora Palit's SUNSHINE AND SPICE, about a bubbly brand consultant who is estranged from her Bengali heritage, but agrees to take on the rebranding of a failing local desi bazaar and ends up striking a deal with the owner's grumpy yet devastatingly attractive son–he will help her nail the cultural aspects of the rebrand if she agrees to be his fake girlfriend to thwart his matchmaking mother's plans. Berkley acquired at action, in a two-book deal, for six-figures, and will publish the first book in 2024.

Michelle Jing Chan will illustrate Traci Huahn's MAMIE FIGHTS TO GO TO SCHOOL: BASED ON A TRUE STORY, inspired by the real life of Mamie Tape, a Chinese American student growing up in San Francisco in the 1880s; Mamie and her parents fought for her to attend their local all-white school, eventually taking a case to the California Supreme Court: Tape v. Hurley (1885). Crown Children's will publish in summer 2024.

Author-illustrator, Laan Chan's WELCOME PINK, is about a girl who finds herself in a new world ruled by two rival creatures and must learn to navigate the complex emotions of being caught in the middle of an argument. Random House Children's will publish in summer 2024.

Taj McCoy's THE GOOD ONES ARE TAKEN, follows a woman as she helps her two BFFs plan their weddings and tries to find a date worthy of taking to both, but she can't help feeling all the good men are taken; it doesn't help that her college friend puts salt in everyone's game, insisting no one is good enough; when he finally reveals his feelings for her, she'll have to decide if it's worth risking something good for something more. HarperCollins | Harlequin, MIRA will publish in spring 2024 and spring 2025 (world English).

Carol William's THE SUPERNATURAL FILES OF CJ DELANEY, in which a 12-year-old cub reporter investigates the biggest story in her small town's history—a mystery filled with lost pets, a witch, sacrifices, possession, and hellhounds; but when all answers point to someone close, she stands to not only lose her byline but the scariest thing of all—the people and pet she loves. Holiday House will publish in spring 2024.

Amaka Egbe's RUN LIKE A GIRL follows a 17-year-old high school track star who moves in with her estranged father only to find out her new school doesn't have a girls track team, so she joins the boys' team instead. HarperCollins | Harlequin, Inkyard Press will publish in summer 2024.