iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 09/09/2026

Really looking forward to sending out some incredible follow-up emails in 2027.

A fortune cookie saying that says "Your communication skills will improve in January."

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 01/08/2026

Happy 10 year anniversary to the best thing I've ever bought for under $10

A beach towel with dolphins wearing bucket hats and gaudy jewelry with a treasure chest

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 22/07/2026

I was so excited to get this CD that I brought it to middle school in my Hornets starter jacket, even though I didn't have a DiscMan and had no way of listening to it.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 22/07/2026

Glenallen Hill one of my favorites to use in Grid because of how cool his photo is!

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 29/04/2026

Absolutely delighted to share that Andrea Offermann's author-illustrator debut (!) will be coming out next year with Ann Kelley at Random House Studio. Wilhelm Werner's story reads like an edge-of-your-seat thriller, but it's all true and meticulously researched by Andrea. Congrats, Andrea!!!

Ann Kelley at Random House Studio has bought, in a preempt, Andrea Offermann's How Wilhelm Werner Became a Thief!, a nonfiction graphic chapter book about a museum caretaker who secretly hid banned paintings by a Jewish artist to protect them from destruction during the Nazi regime. Publication is scheduled for fall 2027; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency sold world English rights.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 29/04/2026

Maggie was very excited to show off her new spring look. Totally revolutionized what you can do with hay!

A white rabbit looking directly at the camera with a piece of hay draped over her head (which she did completely on her own!).

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 01/04/2026

It's not very often that I get to announce a new client *and* a new deal, but @artbyjoycho.bsky.social is truly one of a kind! I was instantly charmed by Hana as soon as I saw her, and am grateful that Sally Morgridge at Holiday House felt the same way. Spring 2029 can't come soon enough!

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 02/03/2026

Wishing everyone a lousy Smarch to all that celebrate

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 06/02/2026

My IG search history of me trying (and failing) to re-find a funny rabbit reel to share with @danawulf.bsky.social

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 15/01/2026

New year, new deals! Congrats @ginaperry.bsky.social on SNOW DAY WITH DADDY, coming Winter 2028 from @littlebrownyr.bsky.social / Christy Ottaviano Books!

Christy Ottaviano at Little, Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books has bought Snow Day with Daddy by Gina Perry. In this nod to Virginia Lee Burton's Katie and the Big Snow, puppy Marie is a hard worker and eager to help her dad snowplow their town. But before they can finish, an unexpected problem presents itself that will require help from others in their community. Publication is planned for winter 2028; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency brokered the deal for world rights.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 07/11/2025

Had an unexpected visitor to our backyard today!

A picture of a red fox with its ears back

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 28/10/2025

Two for Tuesday! Celebrating new picture book deals today for both Margaret Chiu Greanias w/ Bloomsbury and Hyewon Yum w/ Henry Holt. Congrats, Margaret and Hyewon!

Sarah Shumway at Bloomsbury has bought world rights to Jade vs. the Claw Machine, a picture book by Margaret Chiu Greanias (l.), illustrated by Heather Brockman Lee. When Jade's baba's boba shop gets a new claw machine with adorable prizes inside, Jade is determined to beat the odds, win a toy, and change her luck forever. Publication is set for spring 2028; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the author, and Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency represented the illustrator.

Dana Chidiac at Henry Holt has bought, at auction, The Girl, the Village, and the Terrible Thunder by debut author Aimee Yealim Lee (l.), illustrated by Hyewon Yum, a humorous story inspired by a Korean folktale about a girl with a powerful, very smelly secret and how she learns to use it to help her community. Publication is planned for spring 2027; Stefanie Molina-Santos at Looking Glass Literary Agency sold world rights while at Ladderbird Literary Agency, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 27/10/2025

Half-baked (and way too niche) children's publishing Halloween idea: John CandleWick

A mashup of the sweet Candlewick bear on the body of beloved hero John Wick

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 24/10/2025

Closing out the week with a new deal - congrats @cindysykang.com on the upcoming picture book, THE KIMCHI FRIDGE, written by Tina Cho! Cannot wait for everyone to meet Mina and her video game-playing Omma as they make kimchi for kimjang. Coming next year from Little Bee Books!

Brett Duquette at Little Bee Books has bought world rights to The Kimchi Fridge by Tina Cho (l.), illustrated by Cindy Kang, in which a girl learns to make kimchi as her whole family gathers for kimjang, the Korean tradition of preparing and sharing large quantities of this delicious food. Publication is planned for fall 2026; Adria Goetz at KT Literary represented the author, and Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the illustrator.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 31/07/2025

Closing out July with a deal announcement for the next book from @arielbbooks.bsky.social in her delightful OLIVE AND OSCAR early reader series, coming in Spring 2027 (and look for the lead title - THE FAVORITE HAT - in January 2026 from @simonkids.bsky.social). Congrats, Ariel!!!!

Ariel Bernstein's THE PLAY, the next book in the Olive and Oscar early reader series, in which a boy inadvertently upstages a girl during her own one-elephant play, so they decide to work on a new show together, illustrated by Marc Rosenthal, to Elizabeth Barton at Simon Spotlight, for publication in spring 2027, by Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency for the author, and by Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties for the illustrator (world)

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 29/07/2025

The only thing hotter than the temperature is this deal announcement from @pwkidsbookshelf.bsky.social for Margaret Chiu Greanias and Yu Chiao Kuo! Cannot wait for everyone to meet Chih-Ming in Spring 2027 from @mackidsbooks.bsky.social in this celebration of what community looks and feels like.

Kortney Nash at Macmillan/Godwin Books has acquired world English rights to Friendship Is an Invitation, a picture book by Margaret Chiu Greanias (l.), illustrated by Yu Chiao Kuo. When Chih-Ming moves to America, he misses the familiar faces in Taiwan. As he befriends his neighbor Paul, each playdate ends with an invitation to try something new together, from the Fourth of July to the Mid-Autumn Festival. But when Paul announces his family is moving away, it's Chih-Ming's turn to welcome the new arrivals to the neighborhood. Publication is set for spring 2027; Sean McCarthy at Sean McCarthy Literary Agency represented the author, and Amy Milligan at the Illo Agency represented the illustrator.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 19/07/2025

New favorite spot in Westchester - Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers!

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 05/07/2025

Same for semi-final on Tuesday. Cheaper to get into the game than getting a beer there.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 17/06/2025

Counting Crows. Barenaked Ladies. Goo Goo Dolls. Live *and* Collected Soul **and** Our Lady Peace. The dream of the 90s is still alive in Bridgeport, Connecticut apparently.

A poster for shows in Bridgeport that feature many acts from the 90s.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 09/06/2025

Starting the week off with some fantastic news - THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER is an @americanbookseller.bsky.social Kids' Indie Next Pick! Available now at your local indie: bookshop.org/p/books/ther... Congrats, Elayne!

The book cover to THERE'S SOMETHING ODD ABOUT THE BABYSITTER along with an ABA Indie Next Recommendation sticker.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 10/04/2025

Quite pleased with my haul from Dublin and Galway last week. Not pictured: the delicious brown bread that fueled us on our long days out and about!

A collection of used and new books from Ireland; a novelty 45 record, and a Galway United winter hat.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 17/03/2025

Happy St. Rabbit's Day to all that celebrate

A white house rabbit wearing a mini sparkly green hat for St. Patrick's Day

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 17/03/2025

Did you consider renting a book

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 04/03/2025

Took me twice as long as the recipe said, but quite pleased with this blood orange olive oil loaf. Not sure how Mary Berry would feel about that crack, though.

A blood orange olive oil loaf on a plate

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 15/02/2025

Seems like the national news just keeps getting worse and worse, but at least I made a delicious shrimp and corn chowder.

A bowl of shrimp and corn chowder with bacon and scallions.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 29/01/2025

What better way (other than eating tteokguk, of course!) to celebrate Seollal than with these amazing picture books from Junghwa Park and Hyewon Yum? LET'S CELEBRATE KOREAN NEW YEAR! - bookshop.org/p/books/let-... WISH SOUP - bookshop.org/p/books/wish...

The picture books LET'S CELEBRATE KOREAN NEW YEAR! by Michelle W. Park and Hyewon Yum and WISH SOUP by Junghwa Park

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 27/01/2025

Final 24 hours for my picture book manuscript/dummy critique + 15 minute follow-up phone call via @kidlitforla.bsky.social, with all proceeds donated directly to LA wildlife relief efforts (and huge thanks to everyone that's already bid!). Full details here: www.32auctions.com/organization...

Photoshopped image of Sean McCarthy on the "Dan Smith Will Teach You Guitar" poster to raise money for Kidlit For Los Angeles.

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 10/01/2025

My reaction watching The Substance (which I did enjoy!):

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 24/11/2024

Scene from today's walk. Not pictured: a possible Swainson's thrush (or a hermit thrush).

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 20/11/2024

Huge fan of the graphic novel collection that we have at Westchester Public Library. Cannot wait to read these!

The adult graphic novels FINAL CUT by Charles Burns and VICTORY PARADE by Leela Corman

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 18/11/2024

Such a great question! I will humblebrag and use recent books I've worked on as examples: Original Opening - GIANT PANTS by @fearingmark.bsky.social Expert Pacing - AMAH FARAWAY written by Margaret Chiu Greanias Narrative Voice - YOU GO FIRST written by @arielbbooks.bsky.social

The picture book GIANT PANTS by Mark Fearing

The picture book AMAH FARAWAY by Margaret Chiu Greanias and Tracy Subisak

The picture book YOU GO FIRST by Ariel Bernstein and Marc Rosenthal

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 11/11/2024

One of my favorite things of working in publishing is getting to see advance copies of books before they're published, and I'm so excited for this one - Hyewon Yum's next author-illustrator picture book TOTO, coming in January 2025 from Neal Porter Books/Holiday House!

Hyewon Yum's newest picture book, TOTO, coming out in January 2025

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 20/06/2024

Might have to temporarily change the title to ODE TO AN INCREDIBLE DAY - congrats #HyewonYum and #ChelseaLinWallce on the Horn Book Honor for ODE TO A BAD DAY! www.hbook.com/story/presen...

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 24/01/2024

Some good news to cluck about today - a new picture book illustrated by Mark Fearing, hatching Fall 2025 from Holiday House. Congrats, Mark!

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 20/11/2023

New week, new deal! Congrats to Mark Fearing on the new picture book, coming out with Penguin Workshop next year! It's the most realistic time-travel picture book I've ever read (and perhaps the most realistic, period). Congrats, Mark!

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Sean McCarthy @mccarthylit.com · 29/09/2023

Vastly prefer endless guitar solos in November Rain to endless literal September rain.

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