Tony Dungy Writes Inspirational Picture Book for Simon & Schuster

Little Simon Inspirations, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, announced that Tony Dungy, former NFL player and current World Champion NFL head coach, will write an inspirational picture book entitled YOU CAN DO IT, which was acquired by Dee Ann Grand, Editor at Large for Howard Kids/Little Simon Inspirations, and is scheduled to be published in July of 2008.

Coach Dungy became the first African-American head coach to win the Super Bowl in Super Bowl XLI. He is an active member of family, faith, and community-based organizations including All-Pro Dad, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mentors for Life, Family First, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America.

Writer/Director/Producer Alex Wright Signs With Artist International

Hollywood Studios International CEO Steven Saxton announced today that Writer/Director/Producer Alex Wright has signed with Artist International for representation in all areas.

One of Alex's first projects as an Artist International client is to direct Artist International's upcoming feature film, "Two Wolves," which is written by Artist International client Chris Freeman and is being produced by Artist International Partner Stan Spry.

Alex will be managed by Stan Spry and is also represented by The Gersh Agency.

HarperCollins Acquires James Frey's Novel

HarperCollins has acquired North American rights to Bright Shiny Morning, a novel by New York Times bestselling author James Frey. HarperCollins will publish the book in Summer 2008. The deal was negotiated and announced by Jonathan Burnham, Senior Vice President and Publisher of HarperCollins, and Eric Simonoff of Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

James Frey is the author of the 2003 New York Times #1 bestseller A Million Little Pieces, and My Friend Leonard (2005) also a #1 New York Times bestseller. He has also worked as a screenwriter, director and producer in Los Angeles and now resides in New York City with his family.

Bright Shiny Morning will also be available in an e-book edition from HarperCollins e-books and on CD and downloadable audio from Harper Audio

Provocative Novel, America Libre, Acquired by Grand Central Publishing

After five months as a self-published edition, "America Libre" (ISBN: 0-595-42606-9), the controversial debut novel by Raul Ramos y Sanchez has been acquired by Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books). America Libre imagines a nightmarish, not-too-distant future when tensions between Hispanic separatists and Anglo supremacists ignite an ethnic conflict that leads to an armed insurrection seeking to redraw the borders of the United States.

The author sees the apocalyptic story as a wake-up call to the dangers of bigotry and extremism in a growing ethnic gulf. A revised version of the novel is slated for release by Grand Central Publishing. The current edition of the novel will continue in print until the end of 2007. Grand Central Publishing has also acquired El Nuevo Alamo, the sequel to America Libre.

Acknowledging this accomplishment, Raul Ramos y Sanchez has been invited by the Southern California Writers Conference to speak and host a workshop on his journey from self-published author to acquisition by a major publisher. The conference will be held in Irvine, California September 28-30. A book signing for the current edition of America Libre will be held on October 9th, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at Libreria Martinez, the renowned Los Angeles-area bookstore owned by MacArthur genius grant recipient Rueben Martinez. A series of media interviews in Southern California is also slated.

Fueled by his Author's Diary blog, featured by NPR alongside national columnists like Eugene Robinson and Cal Thomas, Ramos y Sanchez now writes a regular editorial column for Viva Los Tiempos, a Knight-Ridder publication serving the Chicago/NW Indiana region. Discussions for syndication with other publications are in the works. Ramos y Sanchez is also host and editor of MyImmigrationStory.com, an online forum for immigrants to the United States from all over the world to share their immigration stories in their own words.

America Libre and El Nuevo Alamo will join titles by Grand Central Publishing's widely-known authors including David Baldacci, James Patterson, and the estate of the late Robert Ludlum, author of the Bourne Identity. Grand Central Publishing, formerly known as Warner Books, is the fifth largest publisher in the U.S. and was purchased from Time Warner Inc. in February 2006 by Hachette Publishing.

More information about America Libre and its author is available at http://www.raulramos.com/ or by calling Scott Willis at 504-952-5790.

Restored Edition of Beloved Children's Classic Little Toot Cruises Into Bookstores This Fall

Little Toot, Hardie Gramatky's beloved picture book about an energetic little tugboat, has sold over six million copies since 1939. This fall, Little Toot (G.P. Putnam's Sons/ISBN # 9780399247132) will chug into stores in a new edition that restores the vibrant colors and endpapers of the original. Adults who remember cheering for Little Toot as he drew figure 8's in the harbor and rooting for him as he battled gigantic waves to save an ocean liner will delight in sharing this classic piece of Americana with their children and grandchildren.

The restored classic edition marks the 100th anniversary of former Disney animator Hardie Gramatky's birth and includes never-before-published paintings and sketches. Kids will connect with Little Toot's love of gliding on the river, his desire to prove he's as important as the other tugboats, and his determination to overcome fears and make his parents proud. Readers will rejoice in his triumph as he saves the day and becomes a hero.

Gramatky, an illustrator and fine artist, was born in Dallas, attended Stanford University and the Chouinard School of Art, and began his career in 1929 at Walt Disney Studios before moving to New York in 1936.

From his studio Gramatky liked to watch boats on the East River. One little Moran tugboat seemed to have a personality of its own, never being in the right place at the right time. Gramatky did watercolors and sketches of tugboats and began to write a story to go with them. After a rejection from a publisher who said "Children aren't thinking that way this year," G.P. Putnam published Little Toot (http://www.littletoot.org/), which has since been translated into seven languages.

Gramatky was also a noted watercolorist. In 2006 Andrew Wyeth named him one of the "20 all-time great American watercolorists," along with Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, and Georgia O'Keeffe, in an interview in Watercolor magazine. When Gramatky was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1950, he was one of only 25 watercolorists to be so honored. His awards include the High Winds Medal of the American Watercolor Society, and his work is in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, and the Toledo Museum of Art, among others.

It Girl PR Signs Author Cindy Lu and Her Book THE FOUR MAN PLAN

"It" Girl PR has acquired author/actress Cindy Lu and her must-have-find-a-mate-manual THE FOUR MAN PLAN: A Romantic Science. Cindy Lu, finally sick of her love life being joke material, set forth to figure out "what is the deal with dating?" Her revelations are our good fortune since her discovery brought forth the scientific system to dating that is outlined in her book.

"It" Girl PR will launch "THE FOUR MAN PLAN" A Romantic Science, this summer and position it as the must-have- find-your-mate-manual. CEO of "It" Girl PR, Juliette Harris, says of the acquisition, "Cindy Lu is a true "itGirl" and we are looking forward to sharing her book with Hollywood's elite celebrities, singles and influencers. I think that women around the globe will benefit from her candid dating insights." "It" Girl will focus on a campaign that targets women of all ages to adjust their dating process to a more scientific and successful result.

Globe Pequot Press Acquires Footprint Books

Globe Pequot Press has strengthened its position as a travel guide publisher with the purchase of Bath, England- based Footprint Books. The announcement was made today by Scott Watrous, president of Globe Pequot.

Footprint Books, which issued its first guidebook in 1924, publishes 80 travel guides covering locations on five continents. The guidebooks feature extensive information on the destinations covered - from food and accommodations to nightlife and transportation.

The acquisition will help expand Globe Pequot's reach across the globe, augmenting the company's travel guide portfolio.

Andy Riddle will continue to serve Footprint as managing director.

Globe Pequot will be handling the U.S. distribution of the Footprint guides.

First Novel in New Series Explores Depth of the Fantasy MMORPG Game World

Electronic Arts Inc. and BL Publishing, announced that BL Publishing will release an original novel based on the highly anticipated MMORPG, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR). The first book in the new series of novels set in the Age of Reckoning, EMPIRE IN CHAOS will be available in all major bookstores and on the BL Publishing website in early 2008.

Anthony Reynolds, the author of the novel remarked, “The Warhammer world is a grim place, full of horror, violence and dark humor, and the EA Mythic team have really brought that to life - faithfully creating a living, breathing, bellicose world being torn apart by constant warfare. It's the perfect backdrop for a novel. I'd been following the progress of the game for some time and it was easy to see that Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning was going to be something special.”

In EMPIRE IN CHAOS, by noted Games Workshop author Anthony Reynolds, the lands of the Empire are being ravaged by a terrible plague. When Annaliese Jaeger's village is overrun and destroyed by mutants, she and an injured Elf captive are the only survivors. As the two unlikely companions fight their way towards Black Fire Pass, Annaliese discovers within herself powers of courage and faith that inspire all around her. With a grizzled Witch Hunter and a Dwarf Ironbreaker, the heroes battle alongside the armies of the Empire and the Dwarfs, above and below the earth, against greenskin tribes and the hordes of Chaos. Together, they must find their courage and help turn back the tides of darkness, lest all of the Empire be lost.