Bob Miller’s start-up unit Harper Studio is blogging via the new site 26thStory.com, and they have announced their initial batch of acquisitions from almost 25 authors via the site. The imprint will launch in April 2009 with a collection of previously unpublished Mark Twain stories (see below). Among the other titles signed so far are former Disney ceo Michael Eisner writing on “great business partnerships,” including his with the late Frank Wells; actor John Lithgow’s memoir; Moosewood Cookbook author Mollie Katzen starts a series for beginning cooks; author Richard Carlson’s (Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff) widow Kris on finding her […]
Deals
S&S Children's Starts Film Unit
Simon & Schuster’s Children’s division has partnered with Gotham Group, a Los Angeles-based management firm, to develop book properties for film, starting with Alienated, director David O. Russell’s upcoming middle-grade book series. “It’s about having more control in the process,” Rick Richter, president and publisher of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, told the New York Times. The Times offers a painstakingly clueless account of how this might aid S&S, with no sense of other film partnerships struck by other big six houses recently.NYT
Former New Lines Execs to Produce Asimov's Foundation
Founders of New Line Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne will produce a film version of Isaac Asimov’s FOUNDATION trilogy for Warner Bros. as the first deal for their new company Unique Features. But this unique project was picked up in turnaround from Fox (which released I, Robot in 2004). Shaye tells Hollywood Reporter, “Our idea [is] to renew the worldwide audience’s appetite for the story.” HR