Amazon Publishing Acquires 47 Books from Award-Winning Mystery Author Ed McBain

Amazon Publishing has acquired the publication rights of 35 titles in the 87th Precinct Series-including "The Con Man" and "The Mugger"-by author Ed McBain. These books will be published by the Thomas & Mercer imprint in print, digital and audio formats starting in Fall 2011. In addition to the 87th Precinct titles, Thomas & Mercer will publish 12 titles in McBain's Matthew Hope series starting in Spring 2012. These 12 books will be published in digital and audio format, with most of the 12 available in print format. This is the first time any of these books have been available digitally for readers. Jane Gelfman of Gelfman Schneider Literary Agents, Inc. represented the estate of Ed McBain in this deal.

Ed McBain was a pseudonym of Evan Hunter, who passed away in 2005. McBain won the Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement from the Mystery Writers of America in 1986, and he was the first American to receive the Crime Writers Association of Great Britain's Cartier Diamond Dagger award. He is the author of the popular 87th Precinct and Matthew Hope series. With more than 100 million books sold worldwide, McBain was praised by critics and fellow writers. "The wit, the pacing, his relish for the drama of human diversity [are] what you remember about the McBain novels," the Philadelphia Inquirer once said of his writing. People Magazine simply observed that "Ed McBain is, by far, the best at what he does. Case closed."

Samhain Horror Signs Additional Authors for New Line

Samhain Horror has signed several horror authors--both established authors and exciting new voices--to its line, launching October, 2011. Following a launch list that includes Horror Master Ramsey Campbell, David Searls and Maynard Sims will release new books in January, 2012.

Samhain Publishing is an international publisher of ebook and traditional print fiction. One of the most prominent voices of original ebook fiction, Samhain represents some of today's brightest authors of romance and horror fiction. To learn why at Samhain "it's all about the story...", visit Samhain Publishing online at http://www.samhainpublishing.com.

Sports Writer Mike Lupica to Publish New Middle-Grade Sports Book Series with Scholastic

Scholastic has acquired world rights to Game Changers, a series of hardcover novels for middle-grade readers written by prominent sports columnist Mike Lupica, to launch in May 2012. Lupica brings his expertise, signature style and New York Times bestselling success to a younger audience with an exciting series that follows reoccurring characters and spans three different sports kids love, football, basketball and baseball. The deal was negotiated by Esther Newberg from International Creative Management for Mike Lupica and Debra Dorfman, Vice President Publisher for Paperbacks, Non-fiction and Licensing, from Scholastic.

Record-Setting Sales for Jaycee Dugard’s Memoir

Simon and Schuster announced that Jaycee Dugard’s memoir, "A Stolen Life," sold a combined total of 175,000 copies on Tuesday, July 12, the first day it went on sale. This includes print books, audio books and nearly 100,000 eBooks, a new company record for one-day eBook sales. Simon and Schuster has already gone back on press five times for a total of 425,000 copies in print.

Big Screen Entertainment Group Options New Screenplay by Award Winning Author and Filmmakers

Big Screen Entertainment Group has optioned the rights to a motion picture screenplay titled GIRL ZERO, devised by husband-and-wife filmmaking partners Eric Shapiro and Rhoda Jordan of Wildlight Entertainment, LLC.

The screenplay, which depicts an apocalyptic scenario in which the Earth's women are being destroyed, was penned by Shapiro from a story created by him and Jordan. The filmmakers' debut picture, a time-bending psycho thriller called RULE OF THREE, is being distributed by BSEG worldwide.