Now a client of Dave Larabell of the David Black Agency (after leaving behind David Vigliano, Sterling Lord, Dennis Holahan and Mort Janklow), Joe McGinniss hopes to turn his cover story on Sarah Palin for the now-defunct Portfolio magazine into a book.NYO Representatives for Usain Bolt, world-record holder and Olympic Champion in the 100m and 200m sprints, are in talks with unnamed publishers about a possible biography.AP
Proposals/auctions
Proposed or Forthcoming
The WSJ reports that recently-free journalist Laura Ling is teaming with her sister, Oprah Winfrey Show correspondent Lisa Ling, for a book proposal “hat will examine the meaning of sisterhood and journalistic ideals. The issue of Laura Ling’s captivity will be discussed, but in a larger context.” They are represented by Suzanne Gluck at William Morris Endeavor.WSJ blog Separately, USA Today has more details on the Michael Jackson coffee table book deal approved the judge overseeing the pop star’s estate. High-end publisher Kraken Opus says they had been negotiating a book deal with Jackson prior to his death and Jackson’s […]
'Angela's Ashes' Author Frank McCourt, 78, Dies, and More People News
Scribner announced the passing of Frank McCourt on Sunday afternoon, as a result of metastatic melanoma. Simon & Schuster ceo Carolyn Reidy said, “Frank will be deeply missed, both as an author and as a warm and welcome presence in our lives. He was as skilled at storytelling in person as in print, with the ability to engage his audience through his abundant wit, humility and ability to extract humor and pathos from life’s setbacks and tragedies. He served as an ambassador for both his own books and reading itself, remaining a champion of teachers and an enthusiast for the […]
One Account of Frey's Co-Author
A source says that the co-author of I AM NUMBER FOUR–reportedly alongside James Frey–is recent Columbia MFA graduate Jobie Hughes. “We’re all ecstatic for him,’ this classmate of Hughes told me by email. “This is pretty much the biggest thing any of us could imagine.” At this time Hughes has not returned email or phone queries, and neither Frey nor Eric Simonoff of WME, who represents both writers, could be reached. (Confusingly, Hughes’ web site lists both Simonoff and Jennifer Lyons of Lyons Literary as his agents, and Lyons confirmed she is representing him. But the 29-year-old Hughes has a […]
James Frey, for Kids–and Perhaps Anonymously?
James Frey is co-writing a YA novel, I AN NUMBER FOUR, that is proposed as the first in six-book series. DreamWorks acquired film rights for “high-six figures” on Friday for director Michael Bay, first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. Publishing rights are on submission via agent Eric Simonoff at William Morris Entertainment. No one has officially confirmed Frey’s involvement, and in the submission Simonoff bills it as by an “unnamed New York Times best-selling author and a young up-and-coming writer.” One publishing executive told the NYT, “I think we’re all confused. I think we’re wondering, ‘Are you hiding it because […]
The Day the News Got Weird
There has been another rash of stories in traditional media about book proposals lately. One of the oddest involves deposed Miss California (and Miss USA runner-up) Carrie Prejean, who was fired by the pageant for alleged breach of contract. Prejean attracted controversy on a number of fronts, including her answer during the pageant opposing same-sex marriages in California. Recently US News & World Report reported she had a book proposal, aimed at conservative publishers. Now in a follow-up, Donald Trump’s Miss USA pageant says her book proposal is actually one of the reasons that she was fired. But Prejean’s attorney […]