The Fox 2000 team headed by Elizabeth Gabler produced numerous successful book-to-film adaptations over the years, but when Fox was sold to Disney the division was abruptly disbanded earlier this year. Now, the unit’s one-time corporate sibling HarperCollins is joining with Sony Pictures to bring back that production team, including includes Erin Siminoff, Marisa Paiva, Nikki Ramey, and Molly Saffron in a new production company opening for business later this summer on Sony’s Culver City lot. Sony and HarperCollins are co-funding the business, and Sony has a first look deal but the partnership “contemplates that Gabler and her team may […]
Film/TV
Briefs
After renewed controversy around prosector-turned-mystery novelist Linda Fairstein following the release of a Netflix series about the Central Park Five, When They See Us, her longtime publisher Dutton said Friday the two parties “decided to terminate their relationship.” A “person with knowledge of the situation” tells the NYT that Dutton is buying out her contract. It’s unclear what, if anything, is happening with Fairstein’s 14-title backlist at Dutton, and the publisher declines to explain what their brief statement actually mens. Her first five books were published by Scribner. Former ceo of Hachette UK Tim Hely Hutchinson was awarded a CBE […]
Acquisitions: PRH Buys Salamandra, Scholastic’s Film Investment, and More
Already the world’s largest Spanish-language publisher, Penguin Random House continues to build on that position with another acquisition, agreeing to acquire Barcelona-based Ediciones Salamandra from Sigrid Kraus and Pedro del Carril. The company has over 500 authors on their list. Kraus will remain as publishing manager, “working closely” with PRH Grupo Editorial ceo Núria Cabutí. PRH ceo Markus Dohle underscores in the announcement, “Penguin Random House strongly believes in the global growth potential of the Spanish-language market, and we very much look forward to bringing Ediciones Salamandra’s authors to an even wider readership.” Pedro del Carril adds: “Of all the […]
People, Etc.
The Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Prize for literature, has named Mats Malm its new permanent secretary. The previous permanent secretary, Sara Danius, resigned last April after a sexual harassment and leaking scandal. Anders Olsson has been filling the role since last June. Malm, a professor of literary theory at the University of Gothenburg, joined the academy four months ago. Katie Hope will join the Princeton University Press as marketing director in June, leading marketing and sales teams in Princeton and Oxford. She was most recently director of marketing and author relations at MIT Press. Jake-Ryan Kent was promoted […]
Winter Is Here: What the Writers Guild Fight Means for Authors and Agents
More than a week ago the Writers Guild of America (WGA) ordered its members to fire their agents, and there’s no end in sight to writers’ objections to film and TV packaging fees and big agencies’ production affiliates. On April 16, the WGA escalated the situation by filing a civil lawsuit against the Association of Talent Agents (ATA) in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that packaging fees violate federal and state law with respect to agents’ fiduciary duties to writer clients. (Talent agencies, unlike talent management firms and literary agencies, are licensed and regulated by the state.) It’s a Hollywood […]
Simon & Schuster to Launch Nonfiction Imprint Tiller Press; Wattpad Pairs with Sony Television
Simon & Schuster will launch Tiller Press, “a trend driven imprint focused on publishing timely, culturally relevant books,” this June. With 19 titles planned for 2019, Tiller Press will publish “practical nonfiction, serving readers clamoring for information to solve real-world problems,” including books on wellness, self-expression, empathy, food and cooking, diet, parenting, home, and more. Theresa DiMasi leads the imprint as vice president, publisher. Most recently, she was vice president, head of content and editor in chief at Weight Watchers International, and previously held various senior editorial and other roles at Conde Nast and elsewhere. Sam Ford serves as director […]