File this one under “interesting development we haven’t seen covered for publishing yet” rather than “news”: Open Road co-founder Jeff Sharp is now also ceo and president of film/TV production company Story Mining & Supply Co. It’s backed by chairman and executive producer Jim Kohlberg — the private equity master who is Open Road’s lead financier through Kohlberg Ventures and a board member of the ebook publisher. (Kohlberg has also been a film producer, writer and director for some time.) You’ll be hearing more about the company this summer when Starz is set to air their 16-episode series based on […]
Film/TV
Creamer to Leave Touchstone as Moldow Takes Over As Publisher, and More
Announced right after Lunch mailed yesterday, Touchstone publisher Stacy Creamer will leave the company on November 15 after more than four years at the imprint. Scribner Publishing Group president Susan Moldow said in the announcement that she will serve as publisher of Touchstone “until further notice,” adding: “I am looking forward to taking a more active role in the day-to-day operations of the imprint, and working closely with the top-notch group of editors and publishing professionals she has assembled as we look to build upon their success to date.” Moldow commended Creamer’s “sharp eye for talent, both on the page and […]
The Books Are Finished But There Are Still More Potter Movies to Make
J.K. Rowling will add screenwriter to her credits, adapting her short Harry Potter-related book Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them for Warner Bros. in an “expanded creative partnership.” The studio came to Rowling with the concept and “I thought it was a fun idea, but the idea of seeing Newt Scamander, the supposed author of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ realized by another writer was difficult…. As I considered Warners’ proposal, an idea took shape that I couldn’t dislodge. That is how I ended up pitching my own idea for a film to Warner Bros.” She underscores in the announcement, “I always […]
Book News: A Lahiri Novel, Algonquin’s Teen Line, Adaptations and ALA Award Candidates
Pulitzer Prize winner for INTERPRETER OF MALADIES Jhumpa Lahiri‘s THE LOWLAND–her second novel after THE NAMESAKE–will be published on September 24 by Knopf (and by Bloomsbury UK). It’s the second book in their deal from 2006, reportedly for $4 million. The Fox Network has ordered a pilot for an adaptation of Lauren Oliver‘s DELIRIUM. Bookseller Mitchell Kaplan’s Mazur/Kaplan Company is executive producing with Chernin Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Television, with the pilot written by executive producer Karyn Usher wrote the pilot which Fox just approved. In the day’s most unusual adaptation news, Hilary Mantel’s Booker-winning duo WOLF HALL and BRING […]
People, Etc.
Doris Cooper has been promoted to vp, associate publisher at Clarkson Potter, continuing to report to Pam Krauss. At Blue Rider Press, Sarah Hochman has been promoted to executive editor. Fast-growing digital publisher Entangled has signed a first-look film deal with John Davis’s Davis Entertainment, which produces for 20th Century Fox. Entangled owner and publisher Liz Pelletier will oversee the relationship for the Entangled, and was represented by The Gersh Agency. Cleveland Plain Dealer book editor Karen Long is leaving her position to to manage the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. Arts reporter Joanna Connors will take over as book editor. Author and editor […]
Random House Adds Television Development Unit, In Partnership with Bertelsmann’s FremantleMedia
Random House has announced formal details about their planned expansion into television development that was mentioned in February, following coverage of Random House Films branching out beyond their exclusive deal with Focus Features to produce and develop books into movies with multiple partners. The new Random House Television unit has a first-look deal with Bertelsmann’s FremantleMedia for TV programming based on Random House books. Jeffrey Levine has been hired as head of television for Random House Television, reporting to Peter Gethers–president of the rebranded film and tv division now officially rebranded as Random House Studio– and working out of FremantleMedia’s […]