Irene Vázquez at Levine Querido (LQ) has acquired world English (excl ANZ) rights and world Spanish and Dutch rights in Briar Rolfe’s graphic novel Get Your Story Straight in a deal brokered by Bold Type Agency on behalf of Danielle Binks at Jacinta di Mase Management.

Get Your Story Straight, local rights which were acquired by Hachette Australia, follows Henry, a 19-year-old trans man who is out to everyone except his conservative parents. When Henry realises his best shot at accessing top surgery is by faking an engagement to his friend Cooper, he learns it isn’t easy to plan a wedding, even a fake one. His mum wants to control everything, his dad is convinced that nonbinary Cooper is a closeted gay man, and Henry might just be developing feelings for his fake fiancé.

Said Vázquez: ‘I fell in love with Get Your Story Straight from the moment I heard the premise—navigating family expectations as a trans person and fake dating, what’s not to love! Briar’s art is the perfect vehicle for this story, and I’m utterly delighted to be bringing this story to North American readers.’

Said Hachette Australia head of publishing Jeanmarie Morosin: ‘Hachette Australia is honoured to play a small part in bringing the experience of reading Briar Rolfe’s brilliant, funny, vulnerable, vibrant and necessary graphic novel to readers far and wide. And we can’t think of a better publisher than LQ to join us on that journey. We are absolutely delighted for Briar—and for readers—to see Get Your Story Straight published internationally.’

Rolfe is a nonbinary illustrator, comic artist and graphic designer who was shortlisted for a Ledger Award in 2017 and highly commended by the Kat Muscat Fellowship in 2020. Of the world rights sale, Rolfe said: ‘I can’t imagine a better fit than Levine Querido for the international release of Get Your Story Straight! Like me, LQ are passionate about bringing underrepresented stories and experiences to light, so they’re perfect for bringing this uniquely Australian story to an international audience.’

The deal with LQ was negotiated following Danielle Binks’ participation in the 2022 New York Publishers’ Program, delivered by Creative Australia. Levine Querido also participated in Creative Australia’s 2023 Visiting International Publishers (VIPs) Program.

Get Your Story Straight will be published in Australia, New Zealand and North America in 2025.