Lawsuit Puree: Sneaky Chef Charges Seinfelds with Plagiarism and Defamation Sneaky Chef author Missy Chase Lapine filed suit in New York yesterday against Jessica Seinfeld and Jerry Seinfeld, alleging copyright and trademark infringement in Jessica’s book Deceptively Delicious, and accusing Jerry of a “malicious campaign” against Lapine, in which he called her a “nut job” and “a wacko.” Up until now, Lapine has had a more modest position on the issue of infringement. When the story first broke in October, she told the NYT, “Honestly I can’t speculate, and I’m not going to accuse anyone of anything. I suppose it’s […]
Lunch for Monday, January 7
Bhutto Book Set for February Harper announced that they will publish the late Benazir Bhutto’s RECONCILIATION: Islam, Democracy, and the West, on February 12. Bhutto’s husband and children have added a “short afterword.” They call the book an “argument for a reconciliation of Islam with democratic principles, in the face of opposition from Islamic extremists and Western skeptics. Drawing on her own faith, and on her own bitter experience of division and hatreds in Pakistan, she speaks movingly and persuasively of a future for Pakistan within the Islamic world and presents arguments that resonate with extraordinary power. In the book […]
Lunch Weekly for Monday, January 7
Deal Reports Just e-mail to deals@PublishersMarketplace if you aren’t using the online form linked below. Report a deal using the online form The Key As usual, the handy key to our Lunch deal categories. While all reports are always welcome, those that include a category will generally receive a higher listing when it comes time to put them all together. “nice deal” $1 – $49,000 “very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000 “good deal” $100,000 – $250,000 “significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000 “major deal” $500,000 and up FICTION Debut David Fuller’s SWEETSMOKE, a historical novel about a slave on a […]
Lunch for Friday, January 4
CQ Press on the Market Congressional Quarterly announced that “it is exploring the sale of its CQ Press division” and has hired the Jordan Edmiston Group to manage the transaction. They hope to complete a sale by the end of January. CQ president Bob Merry says, “This decision has nothing to do with either the past performance or future promise of the CQ Press division, which has operated at an outstanding pitch over the past decade. Instead, with changes throughout the publishing industry, it’s no longer possible for a company such as ours to direct investment capital to all of […]
Lunch for Thursday, January 3
The Books of Winter USA Today previews releases to look for over the next four months — and they tip Geraldine Brooks’ PEOPLE OF THE BOOK as the title getting the most buzz. BN fiction buyer Sessalee Hensley says: “I’m not saying it’s The Da Vinci Code, but there are aspects to it that make you think of it. There’s a lot of art, a lot of history and a lot of religion in it.” Borders’ Zan Farr says it’s her “personal favorite” of the season. And Shelfari’s Dave Hanley says, “Hundreds of people are talking about this book” on […]
Lunch for Wednesday, January 2
As Threatened, Chuck Norris Sues Penguin On December 21, Chuck Norris followed through on his threats and filed suit against Penguin, alleging that they “have misappropriated and exploited Mr. Norris’s name and likeness without authorization for their own commercial profit” in Ian Spector’s book The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 Facts about the World’s Greatest Human. The suit charges that “some of the ‘facts’ in the book are racist, lewd or portray Mr. Norris as engaged in illegal activities.” Norris seeks damages for trademark infringement, unjust enrichment and privacy rights. Reuters Newspaper Book Coverage, Ups and Downs Chicago Sun Times […]