SOLD! Hands On and USCG Cutter Eagle (both by Will Sofrin)

I’ve been atrocious about posting deals this year—chalk it up to baby prep, book deadlines, and a very full plate—but I’m finally getting around to announcing two terrific deals I closed earlier in the year for returning author Will Sofrin. Each showcases a different facet of his curiosity, craftsmanship, and narrative flair.

First, Hands On: The Quest for Experience was acquired by Leah Zarra at Wiley. In this timely book, Will explores the resurgence of apprenticeships across America. From brewers and tattoo artists to luthiers and avalanche hunters, Hands On tells the stories of people who’ve gained expertise the old-fashioned way: by doing. Woven through these profiles is a broader meditation on how we acquire knowledge, why hands-on learning endures, and how mentorship is quietly transforming careers in the trades and beyond. If Gladwell's Outliers had focused on blue-collar virtuosos, this would be it.

One of master luthier Isaac Jang's gorgeous creations. Isaac, who apprenticed with luthier Kathy Wingert, will be profiled in Hands On.

Next, USCG Cutter Eagle: America’s Ship of Diplomacy was acquired by Brittany Stoner at Lyons Press. This illustrated book traces the dramatic, unexpected journey of the Coast Guard’s most iconic vessel—a Nazi-built training ship repurposed as a floating ambassador of American leadership and goodwill. Commissioned into U.S. service in 1946, the three-masted Eagle has trained generations of cadets, weathered Atlantic hurricanes, and sailed into ports across the world as a symbol of diplomacy through seamanship. Drawing on new archival material and fresh interviews with cadets and commanders, Will captures not just the history but the present-day mission of this living classroom. The book will publish in time for the Eagle’s 90th birthday and America's 250th anniversary next summer.

USCG Eagle, a 295-foot, 3-masted barque used as a training vessel. Photo copyright U.S. Coast Guard.

Both books build on Will’s breakout debut All Hands on Deck, and both are a testament to his ability to blend grit, history, and human stories into something compelling. I’m excited for readers to step aboard.

Congratulations to Will, Leah, and Brittany!