Publishers Lunch

FICTION Debut Laureen Vonnegut’s first novel, OASIS, set in Morocco, a fever dream of a novel spun from the threads of murder, survival, conspiracy and rebirth that centers around a Russian beauty, her dead Moroccan husband, and an endless stretch of desert punctuated by a tiny oasis of bizarre and untrustworthy characters, to Amy Scheibe at Counterpoint, for publication in October 2006, by Joe Regal at Regal Literary (world). Journalist Nicholas Kulish’s LAST ONE IN, in which a New York City tabloid’s war correspondent is hit by a truck in Manhattan just as the war in Iraq is about to […]

McCabe Will Leave Reed; Muller Takes Oversight of BEA Chris McCabe, the caretaker show manager who took over running BEA in June 2004, is leaving Reed Exhibitions “to pursue new opportunities” after a rather disinterested stretch running the book convention. Reed is assigning corporate oversight of the show to a more publishing-focused executive, adding BEA to the portfolio of Courtney Muller. She has just been promoted to group vice president, as a part of a broader management reorganization at Reed Exhibitions that includes the departure of the previous executive to whom McCabe had reported as well. Muller was show manager […]

Riverhead Says No to Frey Page Six reports that Riverhead has decided not to go forward with their announced two-book deal with James Frey, confirmed by an unnamed “rep” for Frey. No official word from the publisher has been issued, nor have we heard any bulletins from Frey, his former agency Brillstein-Grey, or publisher of a Million Little Pieces Doubleday about plans for donating part of the Oprah windfall somewhere useful and noble — but there’s still a little more than a month to go before that seven-figure royalty check is issued. Page Six Preiss Companies Close The companies created […]

Hills to Retire, and More Personnel News Longtime editor Fred Hills will retire from his job at the Free Press in mid-April after a career of over 40 years in publishing (including 26 years at Simon & Schuster). His authors over the years have included Vladimir Nabokov (Look at the Harlequins), Raymond Carver (his first story collection, Will You Please Be Quiet, Please?), Daniel Yergin (The Prize), M. Scott Peck, and countless others. Free Press publisher Martha Levin comments in a memo, “We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have worked with Fred. The breadth of his experience is such that […]

Nelson Approves Bid to Go Private Thomas Nelson will take itself private, with financing from private equity group InterMedia Partners VII, in a deal valuing the company at approximately $473 million. The per share offer is about 20 percent higher than the stock traded last week. If approved by shareholders, the sale is expected to close by June 30. CEO Michael Hyatt says in the announcement, “This transaction provides Thomas Nelson’s shareholders with outstanding value for their shares and a significant premium over recent trading prices. Going private at this time is also in the best interests of the Company’s […]

Monday, February 20 FICTION Debut Liz Moore’s THE WORDS OF EVERY SONG, A novel in linked stories set in New York’s music industry, to Kendra Harpster for Broadway, in a nice deal, by Nina Collins at Collins Literary (NA). Erika Mailman’s first novel HEXE, to Allison McCabe at Crown, for six figures, for publication in fall 2007, by Marly Rusoff at Marly Rusoff & Associates (NA). Jon Clinch’s first novel FINN, to Will Murphy at Random House, at auction, by Jeff Kleinman at Folio (NA). Horror Dallas G. Releford’s CICADA SUMMER, in which other creatures more deadly and larger invade […]