A. R. + Cory

A. R. + Cory A. R. + Cory A. R. + Cory
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A. R. + Cory

A. R. + Cory A. R. + Cory A. R. + Cory
coauthored
cory mccarthy
a. r. capetta

books

Nu in de bioscoop Dutch Now A Major Motion Picture by Cory McCarthy
This is Not a Love Scene German Now A Major Motion Picture by Cory McCarthy

Man o' War receives a Stonewall Honor


American Library Association, Youth Media Awards, 2023

audiobooks

Stranger Things: Rebel Robin by A. R. Capetta on audiobook, narrated by Dani Martineck

Narrated by Dani Martineck

Audiobook buy link to Man o' War by Cory McCarthy, narrated by E.R. Fightmaster

Narrated by E.R. Fightmaster

Once & Future audiobook by Cory McCarthy and A. R. Capetta, narrated by Lauren Fortgang

Narrated by Lauren Fortgang

Sword in the Stars, ONCE & FUTURE sequel, A.R. Capetta and Cory McCarthy, narrator Lauren Fortgang

Narrated by Lauren Fortgang

The Heartbreak Bakery audiobook by A. R. Capetta, narrated by Krystal Hammond

Narrated by Krystal Hammond

Ace Takes Flight, B.E.S.T. World 1, Cory McCarthy, narrated by Zachary Roe

Narrated by Zachary Roe

B.E.S.T. World: Under Pressure by Cory McCarthy (book 2) audiobook narrated by
The Lost Coast by A. R. Capetta on audiobook, narrated by Sophie Amoss and Brittany Pressley

Narrated by Sophie Amoss & Brittany Pressley

BREAKING SKY audiobook by Cory McCarthy, narrated by Caitlin Davies

Narrated by Cailtin Davies

That Way Madness Lies audiobook edited by Dahlia Adler

Assorted narrators

The Brilliant Death audiobook by A. R. Capetta, narrated by Carlotta Brentan

Narrated by Carlotta Brentan

The Storm of Life, sequel The Brilliant Death, A. R. Capetta audiobook, narrated by Carlotta Brentan

Narrated by Carlotta Brentan

Echo After Echo audiobook by A. R. Capetta, narrated by Devon Sorvari

Narrated by Devon Sorvari

cory mccarthy

(he/they)

Cory McCarthy is the author of ten weird, bold, and affectionate books. Cory studied poetry at Ohio University and screenwriting at UCLA before earning an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults at VCFA. He recently published the Stonewall Honor-winning Man o' War, best of '22: Kirkus, Bookpage, Buzzfeed, Chicago Public Library, and Autostraddle. As well as Hope is An Arrow, a picture book about fellow Lebanese American, Kahlil Gibran, which was a best book of '22 by Kirkus and School Library Journal. Cory coauthored the bestselling Once & Future series, a finalist for the New England Book Award, with his Lambda award-winning spouse A. R. Capetta. Cory is also mid-series with the futuristic, high-octane middle grade trilogy: B.E.S.T. World. Their books are in translation in over six languages.

representation

Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC (literary/film/tv/etc)

forthcoming

  • Some Assembly Required, B.E.S.T. World 3, fall '23  
  • New YA from Dutton/Penguin Random House
  • Illustrated short story in COLLECTORS anthology
  • New coauthored series: DEAD SPACE TELLS NO TALES

Man o' War named one of the Top Ten Best Books of 2022


BookPage

books

Man o' War by Cory McCarthy. Best YA book of the year. Film/TV rights available. Trans swimmer.

MAN O' WAR

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

An achingly honest and frequently hilarious coming-of-age about an Arab American trans teen fighting to keep their head above water in a landlocked Midwestern town.


  • A Stonewall Honor Book
  • One of BookPage's Top Ten Books of '22 and Best YA of '22, Best of '22 lists for Kirkus, Buzzfeed, Autostraddle, Chicago Public Library
  • Starred reviews fro

An achingly honest and frequently hilarious coming-of-age about an Arab American trans teen fighting to keep their head above water in a landlocked Midwestern town.


  • A Stonewall Honor Book
  • One of BookPage's Top Ten Books of '22 and Best YA of '22, Best of '22 lists for Kirkus, Buzzfeed, Autostraddle, Chicago Public Library
  • Starred reviews from Kirkus, Publisher's Weekly, Bookpage
  • Junior Library Guild 
  • Amazon's Editor's Choice June 2022
  • Audiobook available, narrated by nonbinary actor E.R. Fightmaster


Dutton/Penguin Random House '22. CW: internalized queerphobia, racism, self-harm, TERFs, and animal abuse (for-profit captivity)

Hope Is An Arrow by Cory McCarthy. Illustrated by Ekua Holmes. Kahlil Gibran. Gibran Khalil Gibran.

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

A picture book chronicling the life of Lebanese American poet and artist Gibran Khalil Gibran, aka Kahlil Gibran. Illustrated by Ekua Holmes.


  • Best Books of '22 lists: Kirkus and School Library Journal
  • Starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Horn Book, School Library Journal


Candlewick Press '22

ACE TAKES FLIGHT, B.E.S.T. WORLD BOOK 1

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

ACE TAKES FLIGHT, B.E.S.T. WORLD BOOK 1

At a near-futuristic academy where tweens compete to receive augmented bodies, the very corporation that makes everyday superheroes possible comes under fire for crimes against humanity. Four standout cadets will join forces and save the freakin' day.


  • "Recommended for all school libraries serving middle graders." School Library Journal
  • "Fas

At a near-futuristic academy where tweens compete to receive augmented bodies, the very corporation that makes everyday superheroes possible comes under fire for crimes against humanity. Four standout cadets will join forces and save the freakin' day.


  • "Recommended for all school libraries serving middle graders." School Library Journal
  • "Fast-paced, imaginative, and refreshing" Kirkus
  • Audiobook available


Clarion/HarperCollins/HMH. 


UNDER PRESSURE, B.E.S.T. WORLD BOOK 2

HOPE IS AN ARROW: THE STORY OF LEBANESE AMERICAN POET KAHLIL GIBRAN

ACE TAKES FLIGHT, B.E.S.T. WORLD BOOK 1

In book two of this action-packed near-future adventure, McCarthy crafts an incredible world with high-stakes storytelling, magnetic characters, and thematic undercurrents that spotlight the complexities of family and friendship, self-empowerment, and the magnitude of truth. 


  • Book 3 coming fall '23
  • Audiobook available narrated by Kevin R. Free


Clarion/HarperCollins/HMH. 


Now A Major Motion Picture by Cory McCarthy. Romcom. Young Adult. Film/TV rights available.

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

Fandom, first love, and feminism collide in Ireland on a high fantasy film set.   

 

  • Amelia Bloomer List 2019 
  • Junior Library Guild selection. 
  • "A war cry and a love letter all at once." -Kirkus  
  • "Joyful and authentic." - Booklist 
  • Available in translation in Germany (This is Not a Love Scene) and the Netherlands (Nu in de Bioscoop).


Published by Sourcebooks/PRH '18. CW: child abduction in backstory

YOU WERE HERE

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

Latent grief blows. Five not-friends urban explore through an abandoned insane asylum, beneath the streets of Columbus, to the top of a forgotten roller coaster.  


  • Prose, graphic novel, and word art chapters.    
  • Bank Street Best Book of 2017 
  • Starred reviews from BCCB & YALSA 
  • 2017 TAYSHAS List from the Texas Library Association 


Sourcebooks/PRH, 2016. CW: accidental teen death in backstory

BREAKING SKY

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

THE COLOR OF RAIN

America is jacked in cold war. All hopes fall on prototype fighter jets and their athletic young pilots. More Starbuck than Maverick, if you follow my drift. 


  • In Hollywood via Sony Pics and Josephson Entertainment 
  • Starred reviews from School Library Journal and BCCB 
  • Accelerated Reader Program 
  • Available in translation in Thailand, Turkey, a

America is jacked in cold war. All hopes fall on prototype fighter jets and their athletic young pilots. More Starbuck than Maverick, if you follow my drift. 


  • In Hollywood via Sony Pics and Josephson Entertainment 
  • Starred reviews from School Library Journal and BCCB 
  • Accelerated Reader Program 
  • Available in translation in Thailand, Turkey, and Russia (Broken Sky).
  • Audiobook available from Blackstone.


Sourcebooks/PRH, 2014. CW: teen death

THE COLOR OF RAIN

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE

THE COLOR OF RAIN

It's prostitutes in space. Hey, we all gotta start somewhere. 


  • "...quite possibly the next big thing." - Barnes and Noble. 


Running Press/Hachette, 2013. CW: human trafficking, prostitution, threat of sexual assault

available now

MAN O' WAR narrated by E.R. Fightmaster

A. R. Capetta

(they/them)

A. R. Capetta is an acclaimed author of the strange and magical. Notable titles include Lambda Award-winner The Heartbreak Bakery and the bestselling Once & Future series, a finalist for the New England Book Award, which they co-authored with their spouse Cory McCarthy. Other accolades include JLG selections, Kirkus Best Book of the Year, Locus Recommended Reading List, Booklist Top 10 Horror/Fantasy for YA, and ALA Rainbow List. 

representation

Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties (literary) and Kim Yau at Echo Lake Entertainment (film/tv). 

forthcoming

  • Early reader series from Candlewick
  • New YA from Candlewick
  • Coauthored short story
  • Unannounced YA
  • Coauthored YA series

The Heartbreak Bakery wins a LAMBDA Award


2022

bookS

TASTING LIGHT

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

YA science fiction is a landscape (and starscape). Get ready for incandescent stories from: William Alexander, K. Ancrum, Elizabeth Bear, Charlotte Nicole Davis, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, A.S. King, E.C. Myers, Junauda Petrus-Nasah, and a graphic short story from Wendy Xu.


  • Starred review from Kirkus, Best of 2022 list for Kirkus


Published by Candlewick Press and MITPress. Available in audiobook.

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

Lambda Award Winner. 

Agender baker Syd gets heart broken and makes magical brownies that break up queer love all over South Austin. It'll take flour, sugar, salt--and adorbs trans bike messenger Harley--to heal all those hearts. 


ALA Rainbow List '21


Published by Candlewick Press. Available in audiobook.

REBEL ROBIN

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

THE LOST COAST

Official STRANGER THINGS novel starring everyone's favorite queer badass. 

  • Listen to the six episode podcast voiced by Mia Hawke and Sean Maher!


Published by Penguin Random House. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

THE LOST COAST

THE HEARTBREAK BAKERY

THE LOST COAST

Six queer witches, two timelines, and lots of perspectives, including ravens and redwood trees. A magical mystery for the weird at heart. 

  • Tor’s Best YA of the Year
  • Top 10 SF/Fantasy & Horror for Youth
  • ALA Rainbow List 
  • “Slow-burning, mystical, and romantic” -Booklist, starred review
  • “Devastatingly good” -Tor.com

Published by Candlewick Press. Audiobook available from Listening Library.

ECHO AFTER ECHO

THE BRILLIANT DEATH & THE STORM OF LIFE

THE BRILLIANT DEATH & THE STORM OF LIFE

A young actor, a cursed Broadway production—and a blindingly bright queer love story.

  • ALA Rainbow List & Junior Library Guild Selection
  • “Sophisticated plot development and the lyrical language Capetta uses [...] make this an exceptionally compelling read.” -Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
  • “Smart and progressive.” -Foreword Reviews, starre

A young actor, a cursed Broadway production—and a blindingly bright queer love story.

  • ALA Rainbow List & Junior Library Guild Selection
  • “Sophisticated plot development and the lyrical language Capetta uses [...] make this an exceptionally compelling read.” -Publisher’s Weekly, starred review
  • “Smart and progressive.” -Foreword Reviews, starred review

Published by Candlewick Press. Audiobook available from Brilliance Audio. CW: Murder, sexual assault in the backstory, threat of sexual assault

THE BRILLIANT DEATH & THE STORM OF LIFE

THE BRILLIANT DEATH & THE STORM OF LIFE

THE BRILLIANT DEATH & THE STORM OF LIFE

Magic. Mafia. Romance. This historically-inspired Italian fantasy centers secret strega magic—and gender unbound love. 

  • ALA Rainbow List
  • “A delicious and magical intrigue” -Kirkus, starred review
  • “A protagonist as ruthless as she is fiery” -SLJ, starred review
  • “One of the most artful, gorgeous, romantic books in the LGBTQIAP YA canon” -B&N Te

Magic. Mafia. Romance. This historically-inspired Italian fantasy centers secret strega magic—and gender unbound love. 

  • ALA Rainbow List
  • “A delicious and magical intrigue” -Kirkus, starred review
  • “A protagonist as ruthless as she is fiery” -SLJ, starred review
  • “One of the most artful, gorgeous, romantic books in the LGBTQIAP YA canon” -B&N Teen blog
  • “A unique mashup of fantasy, historical fiction, and queer romance.” -Bustle


Viking '19 & '20. Audiobook from Listening Library


In this sequel to The Brilliant Death, Teo and Cielo’s wild love entwines with a quest to save Vinalia.

  • “A highly satisfying conclusion to an original tale” -Booklist
  • “Wild with thrilling shifts and electrifying prose, this passionate storm carries the story to a worthy end.” -Kirkus


CW: murder, suicide

ENTANGLED / UNMADE

THE BRILLIANT DEATH & THE STORM OF LIFE

ENTANGLED / UNMADE

A spacepunk opera with quantum physics and found family. The sequel turns up the urgency to find a home for far-flung human species. 

  • BEA Buzz Book 2013
  • Publisher’s Weekly starred review


Published by HMH Kids



coauthored

A. R. Capetta (they/them) & Cory McCarthy (he/they) coauthored the bestselling ONCE & FUTURE series, a finalist for the New England Book Award and a best of 2019 title according to Kirkus, Boston Globe, Tor, and Book Riot. They are also the acclaimed authors of over a dozen solo titles. Check out their Much Ado trans retelling, "Some Other Metal" in the anthology, That Way Madness Lies: 15 of Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined. 


In 2014, they cofounded Rainbow Boxes, a charitable initiative that crowdsourced 15k to send LGBTQ+ fiction to support shelters and community libraries all over the country. In 2018, they cofounded the Rainbow Weekend, the country's first in-community retreat for aspiring LGBTQ+ identifying authors of young adult and children's fiction. The couple are avid cosplayers with aspirations of doing a truly incredible Sophie and Howl someday.


Read a new short story by them in Transmogrify, coming spring '23, and in  '24 prepare for a new series of rip-roaring space queers. 


The couple met while earning MFAs from Vermont College of Fine Arts and fell in love shortly thereafter.

representation

Sara Crowe at Pippin Properties (AR: literary) 

Kim Yau at Echo Lake Entertainment (AR: film/tv) 

Jim McCarthy at Dystel, Goderich & Bourret LLC (CM: literary and film/tv inquiries)

forthcoming

  • Coauthored short story in Transmogrify
  • Unannounced YA series

ONCE & FUTURE

That Way Madness Lies

SWORD IN THE STARS

A futuristic twist on the Arthurian canon starring a queer girl King Arthur and one grumpy teenage Merlin. 

  • Finalist for the New England Book Award 
  • Best of '19 Kirkus, Tor, Boston Globe, Book Riot 
  • Barnes and Noble Bestseller 
  • Starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness 
  • ALA Rainbow and Amelia Bloom

A futuristic twist on the Arthurian canon starring a queer girl King Arthur and one grumpy teenage Merlin. 

  • Finalist for the New England Book Award 
  • Best of '19 Kirkus, Tor, Boston Globe, Book Riot 
  • Barnes and Noble Bestseller 
  • Starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness 
  • ALA Rainbow and Amelia Bloomer List '20 
  • Available in UK & Australia from One World
  • Audiobook available


Little Brown '19

CW: murder, genocide

SWORD IN THE STARS

That Way Madness Lies

SWORD IN THE STARS

The Knights of the Rainbow portal into the Middle Ages, where once and future go meta to create a closed temporal loop. 


  • Starred review from School Library Journal 
  • ALA Rainbow List 2021
  • Audiobook available
  • Available in UK and Australia from One World


Little Brown '20 

That Way Madness Lies

That Way Madness Lies

That Way Madness Lies

Taron and Teagan are not Benedick and Beatrice; they only play them on stage. 


"Some Other Metal" reimagines "Much Ado About Nothing" via an intergalactic Shakespeare troupe in That Way Madness Lies: Fifteen of Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined.

 

  • Edited by Dahlia Adler
  • Audiobook available 


Macmillan '20

Transmogrify!

That Way Madness Lies

That Way Madness Lies

An anthology of stories about trans and nonbinary folk in magical places. 


"Dragons Name Themselves" is a fantasy twist on Juno, starring a trans violinist with late magic and a side-eyeing overachiever.


  • Edited by g. heron-davis 



HarperCollins '23

FAQs

With great thought and fluidity. And an affectionate sense of humor. 


Please send blurb requests through our awesome agents. Thanks!


We retain film and tv rights for all of our books except for the Stranger Things title and the B.E.S.T. World series. Reach out through agents to check current availability.


contact

A. R. Capetta & Cory McCarthy have limited availability.

For publishing related queries, please make contact through agents. Fan mail can be sent c/o our publishers; all mail will be vetted.

Copyright © 2021 A. R. Capetta & Cory McCarthy - All Rights Reserved.

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