Amazon Acquires the Literary Fiction List of The Toby Press

Amazon and The Toby Press today announced that Amazon plans to acquire the publication rights of up to 121 books currently published by The Toby Press. The books represent the works of 61 authors and include diverse fiction titles and works in translation.

Amazon's publishing imprints, AmazonEncore and AmazonCrossing, will re-publish the works as print editions and Kindle editions in the United States and globally in cases where authors choose to make their works available. Kindle editions will be available for Kindle devices and Kindle apps, and print editions will be available on www.amazon.com and its websites worldwide, as well as in bookstores throughout the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.

For more information on AmazonEncore and AmazonCrossing upcoming titles, visit www.amazon.com/encore or www.amazon.com/crossing.

HarperOne To Publish The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho's International Bestseller

HarperOne announced the December 2010 publication of The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel (Hardcover; $22.99; ISBN 9780062024329). A beautiful interpretation of a beloved classic that continues to inspire readers worldwide, The Alchemist: A Graphic Novel will be available just in time for the 2010 holiday season.

The Alchemist has established itself as a modern classic. An international bestseller, it has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years and is regularly cited in interviews as the favorite of celebrities ranging from Russell Crowe to Will Smith to Joe Jonas. Now, for the first time, the phenomenal bestseller has been rendered as a graphic novel that will appeal to the millions of existing fans while also attracting a new generation of readers.

According to author Paulo Coelho, "It was an old dream of mine to have The Alchemist as a graphic novel. This version exceeds my expectations and is a beautiful manifestation of what I originally imagined while crafting this story."

The Penguin Press to Publish Second Novel From Sapphire

Ann Godoff, President and Publisher of The Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), announced the acquisition of Sapphire's The Kid, the second novel by the bestselling author of Push. The Kid tells the electrifying story of Abdul Jones, the son of Push's unforgettable heroine, Precious. The deal, for North American rights, was made between Godoff, who serves as editor, and Melanie Jackson of the Melanie Jackson Agency. Publication is slated for Summer 2011.

"Sapphire never fails to render the hardest material comprehensible by coming from a place of love," Ann Godoff said of the acquisition. "In her second novel, she fearlessly explores the young life of an African American boy as he approaches manhood; alone, brutalized and with the soul of an artist. It is an honor for The Penguin Press to have the opportunity to publish this extraordinary book."

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children's trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkeley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam's Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

Book Publisher Rosenthal to Launch Penguin Imprint

David Rosenthal, the former publisher of CBS Corp.'s Simon & Schuster imprint, is launching his own imprint at Pearson PLC's Penguin Group (USA).

Exclusive Distribution Deal With Author of Controversial New Bon Jovi Book

Global Media Online, Inc. has signed an exclusive, one year distribution deal with Ritchie Bozzett, Author of "Sex, Drugs, and Bon Jovi," a tell all book about his life as the former road manager for the international sensation, the rock band Bon Jovi.

The agreement grants Global the exclusive third party rights as the "online retailer" of the book. The book will be offered to the public exclusively by Global Media Online, Inc. on Amazon.com, half.com and various online retail outlets. Recently the book has appeared in The NY Post, LA Times, The Daily News and several other large newspaper publications, due to the eye opening antics of the band, its front man Jon Bon Jovi, as well as revelations about bandmate Ritchie Sambora's role in Jon Bon Jovi's marriage issues.

"Sure, it's filled with sex, drugs, and crazy antics, but the real underlying story reveals the man behind the stage, his exploits and experiences on this fantastic rise to fame and how the large record companies left him out in the cold once the band reached its success," said company CEO Raymond Barton. "The book is simply captivating, and with the growing popularity and media exposure, I expect it to be a tremendous success for Mr. Bozzett and for Global. This endeavor also creates new opportunities for Global to expand into publishing and order fulfillment along with the online retail."

G. P. Putnam's Sons Acquires 33 Men

G. P. Putnam's Sons President Ivan Held today announced the acquisition of a riveting new book, 33 Men, by Jonathan Franklin, an award-winning American journalist who has lived in Chile for 15 years. He had unprecedented access to the 33 Chilean miners trapped 2,200 feet below the earth for ten weeks, their families, and the emergency personnel who ultimately rescued all 33 men alive. This uplifting story of survival and endurance has captivated the world.

North American hardcover and paperback rights as well as audio and eBook rights to the book were acquired in a highly competitive auction by Marysue Rucci, Vice President, Editorial Director, G. P. Putnam's Sons, from literary agent George Lucas of InkWell Management LLC in association with Annabel Merullo at PFD in London. Putnam is planning to publish the book in hardcover in February 2011. Berkley will publish the paperback edition approximately one year later.

New Kindle Exclusive: Edward Burns--Actor, Writer, Director and Film Producer--Makes Electronic Edition of Screenplay

Amazon.com  announced that actor, writer, director and film producer Edward Burns has made the screenplay of his just-released film "Nice Guy Johnny" available in electronic format exclusively in the Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore). Kindle customers can purchase this book for $7.99 and read it on their Kindle, Kindle 3G, Kindle DX, iPad, iPod touch, iPhone, Mac, PC, BlackBerry and Android-based devices. Amazon's Whispersync technology syncs your place across devices, so you can pick up where you left off. With Kindle Worry-Free Archive, books you purchase from the Kindle Store are automatically backed up online in your Kindle library on Amazon, where they can be re-downloaded wirelessly for free, anytime. The e-book edition of "Nice Guy Johnny" will be exclusive to the Kindle Store for one year.

The film "Nice Guy Johnny," written and directed by Edward Burns, introduces Johnny Rizzo, who is about to trade his dream job in talk radio for some snooze-ville gig that'll pay enough to please his fiancee. Enter Uncle Terry, a rascally womanizer set on turning a weekend in the Hamptons into an eye-opening fling for his nephew. Nice guy Johnny's not interested, of course, but then he meets the lovely Brooke, who challenges Johnny to make the toughest decision of his life.

The screenplay of "Nice Guy Johnny" was published using CreateSpace, part of the Amazon group of companies. The original soundtrack of "Nice Guy Johnny" is also being released today, available as a CD through CreateSpace, Amazon's Disc on Demand platform, exclusively on Amazon.com, and as an MP3 on Amazon.com. Viewers can also download "Nice Guy Johnny" at http://www.niceguyjohnnythemovie.com/ or http://www.edwardburns.net/, or through Amazon Video on Demand beginning Nov 2. The DVD of the movie is also now at Amazon.com.

THQ and Random House Sign Publishing Deal to Expand the World of Homefront

THQ Inc. and the Random House Publishing Group today announced that a novel set in the Homefront universe and co-written by John Milius (Red Dawn and Oscar Award-winning Apocalypse Now) and New York Times bestselling author Raymond Benson (author of two Metal Gear Solid books and multiple James Bond novels) will be published by Random House's Del Rey imprint, and arrive in early 2011 to coincide with the release of the first Homefront game.

Homefront the videogame is a thrilling first person shooter set for release on the Xbox 360(R) video game and entertainment system, PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC in March 2011. It tells the story of a stricken America, fallen to savage military occupation in the year 2027.

For more information on Homefront, visit the official site at DefendYourHomefront.com follow us at facebook.com/homefrontgame or twitter.com/homefrontgame.

The Library of Congress Revives Public Domain Works

CreateSpace, part of the Amazon.com, Inc., today announced an agreement with The Library of Congress to make at least 50,000 public books available through www.amazon.com. The Library of Congress also reached an agreement with Amazon Europe to make tens of thousands of books in the public domain available around the world to customers on www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de and www.amazon.fr using print on-demand technology, an inventory-free, cost-efficient publishing solution that only manufactures titles as customers order them.

This announcement with The Library of Congress follows the announcement in February 2010 that The British Library would be bringing at least 65,000 public domain titles to market using print on-demand. From Victorian classics to "penny dreadfuls," readers now have access to The British Library's unique collection of historic content.

As part of their ongoing efforts to improve access to material through digitization, the libraries provide CreateSpace and Amazon Europe's print on-demand business with digital copies of scanned public domain books in their collections to be manufactured on-demand. Creating digital files from physical books preserves the integrity of the original works, and the new paperback editions available through CreateSpace and Amazon Europe distribution channels increase accessibility of those works to readers.

With CreateSpace Print on-Demand, these national libraries will make a large selection of content available quickly and easily via CreateSpace's host of U.S. distribution channels, including www.amazon.com, ensuring wide public access with little economic investment. Since titles are only manufactured in response to customer demand, no inventory is needed and the titles will never go out of stock, making print on-demand an economic, convenient, and environmentally responsible public access solution for libraries.

The Library of Congress and The British Library are the most recent organizations to work with CreateSpace Print on-Demand and Amazon Europe's print on-demand business to give readers access to rare or out-of-print titles. Other noteworthy institutions--such as The University of Michigan Library--have already made tens of thousands of titles available on Amazon's U.S. and European websites using CreateSpace Print on-Demand and Amazon Europe's print on-demand business.

"Libraries are adopting print on-demand to give the public access to more works globally that may previously only have been available in a single country or even just in their individual physical catalogs," said Dana LoPiccolo-Giles, managing director, CreateSpace. "We are looking forward to helping support The Library of Congress in its public access and preservation mission through our print on-demand solution."

For more information about CreateSpace Print on-Demand, please visit www.createspace.com/info/publisher.

Northern Rock Launches Penguin Book Share Scheme

Northern Rock has partnered with Penguin books to offer customers free copies of classic editions available from many of its branches.

Some 25 high street branches across the country will be stocked with classic titles from the Penguin range including Moby Dick, The Thirty Nine Steps and Wind in the Willows.

Each paperback cover will feature the iconic Penguin logo, alongside the distinctive Northern Rock pink and black brand.

Northern Rock hopes that customers visiting participating bank branches will select a book from the specially designed stand, take it home, pass it on to friends or drop it into a branch for someone else to enjoy.

Anth Mooney, Marketing Director at Northern Rock said: "The Penguin book share scheme is a great way to get people talking about our brand. It also helps to make our branches interesting and stimulating places to visit and conduct business.

"To be associated with such a well-known name in the publishing world is a great honour and we are looking forward to generating lots of interest and hopefully introducing children to such classics as the Railway Children and Treasure Island, featuring Long John Silver - the original Pirate of the Caribbean."

Nicola Hill, Marketing Director at Penguin, said: "We're delighted with this collaboration and look forward to hearing from new readers as they discover Penguin Classics through Northern Rock."

If the pilot proves successful, Northern Rock aims to launch a virtual book club that allows people to post reviews and ask for Penguin books they have not read yet.

Movie interest in debut novel thanks to iTunes

Mr Loaded's author, Kiaron Finnegan, didn't follow the traditional route of looking for an agent once his manuscript was finished. Instead he found a developer and eBook publisher (Andrews UK) who published it as an eBook across multiple formats and an App in return for a share of the profits. It was available on a range of platforms within three weeks including Apple's iBookstore and as a 'book App' in its own right.

Finnegan thinks that new breed of developers and publishers gives hope to new authors who might not otherwise have any."No matter how good your work may be, finding an agent or publisher willing to take you on is as rare as hen's teeth. Because of the latest mobile platforms and the wide range of e-book retailers out there, publishers have less cost exposure meaning they can be braver than traditional print publishers."

Now a movie production company have expressed an interest in purchasing the film rights of the book. The producer had seen the App on the iTunes store, but Finnegan's not going to hand the rights over straight away. "Of course I'd love to see the story on screen but I don't want to release the rights just for the film to sit in development for three years. That would be a bit hard to take after all the work I've put in."

The experience has left Finnegan in no doubt of his next move. "Although I still don't have a publisher for the physical book nor even an agent, I will definitely look to do the same again for my second novel."

Website: to http://www.kiaron.com/ or www.andrewsuk.com/

Professor Explores Legacy of Frankenstein Author

Mary Shelley is best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein, but Salisbury University professor Lucy Morrison believes the British writer's legacy is broader.

In the 2010 collection of essays Mary Shelley: Her Circle and Her Contemporaries, Morrison rejects the characterization of Shelley as a "one-book author" and instead illustrates the full influence of the many works by the famed Romantic. In addition to being a novelist, Shelley was short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer and travel writer.

"This collection joins a conversation other scholars began in the 20th century--and leaves it with more remaining to be said in the decades to come," Morrison writes in the introduction.

The essays explore Shelley's place within the Romantic period. They illustrate her literary partnership with her husband, poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. They consider the influence that her well-known parents, political philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, had on her career. They also examine her texts alongside those of contemporaries, including Thomas Moore and John Polidori.

Co-authored and edited with Dr. L. Adam Mekler of Morgan State University, the book was printed by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in the United Kingdom. Previously, Morrison has co-authored A Mary Shelley Encyclopedia and has published articles on women writers of the Romantic period in the Keats-Shelley Journal, Philological Quarterly, Persuasions Online and Romanticism on the Net.

Morrison is an associate professor in SU's English Department and specializes in British Romantic literature. She also is associate director of SU's Bellavance Honors program.

UBC Press Grants World Rights to Entire Collection

The University of British Columbia Press (UBC Press), one of the largest university presses in Canada, has entered into an agreement with Bookshare granting world rights to its collection. UBC Press offers a unique perspective through the generation and transfer of knowledge across many subject areas.

UBC Press is a leading publisher of books in political science, Aboriginal studies and law for postsecondary educational, professional and scholarly audiences. Other areas of particular strength in the collection include titles in Asian studies, history, environmental studies, health policy and sexuality studies. UBC Press currently has 1,000 titles in print and publishes 65 new books annually which will add significant value to the Bookshare international collection for Canadian members.

"University presses perform services that are of inestimable value to the academic community--researchers, teachers, librarians, and importantly, students," said Betsy Beaumon, Vice President and General Manager of the Literacy Program at Benetech, the nonprofit organization that operates Bookshare. "The generous support of a prestigious Canadian university press builds the collection for Canadian readers with print disabilities, as well as those around the world. Right now, the total number of books available in Canada has grown to over 22,000 thanks to the contributions of all publishers who have granted world rights."

Professor Explores Legacy of Frankenstein Author

Mary Shelley is best known for her Gothic novel Frankenstein, but Salisbury University professor Lucy Morrison believes the British writer's legacy is broader.

In the 2010 collection of essays Mary Shelley: Her Circle and Her Contemporaries, Morrison rejects the characterization of Shelley as a "one-book author" and instead illustrates the full influence of the many works by the famed Romantic. In addition to being a novelist, Shelley was short story writer, dramatist, essayist, biographer and travel writer.

"This collection joins a conversation other scholars began in the 20th century--and leaves it with more remaining to be said in the decades to come," Morrison writes in the introduction.

The essays explore Shelley's place within the Romantic period. They illustrate her literary partnership with her husband, poet and philosopher Percy Bysshe Shelley. They consider the influence that her well-known parents, political philosopher William Godwin and feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, had on her career. They also examine her texts alongside those of contemporaries, including Thomas Moore and John Polidori.

Co-authored and edited with Dr. L. Adam Mekler of Morgan State University, the book was printed by Cambridge Scholars Publishing in the United Kingdom. Previously, Morrison has co-authored A Mary Shelley Encyclopedia and has published articles on women writers of the Romantic period in the Keats-Shelley Journal, Philological Quarterly, Persuasions Online and Romanticism on the Net.

Morrison is an associate professor in SU's English Department and specializes in British Romantic literature. She also is associate director of SU's Bellavance Honors program.

Child Author Gets Surprise Book Deal

Earlier this summer, 9-year old Luke Copas toured the new Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. with his mother and father, Sabrina and Robby Copas. The fourth grader at Northview Primary School in Kodak, Tenn. was no stranger to the world's most famous luxury liner; in fact, he had already written a book about it – but his visit to the museum would lead to a huge surprise for the young writer.

Last school year, then 8-year old Luke had been selected to participate in the "Child Authors' Conference." An avid reader who loved learning about the past, Luke wanted his book to create a passion in other children for history.

Sabrina Copas said, "Luke became a walking encyclopedia of all things Titanic. He was literally consumed by it. When it came time for him to actually write his book for the Child Authors' Conference, it took him less than one week to write it because he knew the subject matter so well."

Luke took his book to the Titanic Museum Attraction and showed it to co-owner Mary Kellogg-Joslyn. Impressed with the boy's talent and driven by his enthusiasm, Kellogg-Joslyn secretly made a few phone calls and landed the boy a book deal.

New Kindle Exclusive: David Morrell, New York Times Bestselling Author

Amazon.com announced that internationally bestselling author David Morrell is releasing a new, never-before-published, full-length thriller, "The Naked Edge," along with nine of his previously published books, in electronic book format exclusively in the Kindle Store. This is the first time any of these titles have been available electronically. These Kindle editions will offer additional content for many of the books, including new introductions and photographs that reveal insights into the making of these modern classics. All 10 of these Morrell books are available starting today for download exclusively from the Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore).

Morrell is the co-founder of the International Thriller Writers organization, a three-time Bram Stoker award- winner, and recipient of ITW's ThrillerMaster award in recognition of his legendary career and outstanding contributions to the thriller genre. His first novel "First Blood," still in print after 38 years, became the successful Rambo film franchise.

Running Press Book Publishers and Seventeen Magazine Team Up for Unique Book Project

Christopher Navratil, Publisher of Running Press Book Publishers, a member of The Perseus Books Group, has acquired world rights to Seventeen's Ultimate Style Guide by Ann Shoket and the Editors of Seventeen through Lia Ronnen at Melcher Media. Running Press will publish in July 2011; Melcher will package.

"We are excited to be working with Ann and her group in bringing this book to market. In working with the # 1 selling monthly teen magazine, our goal is to create an indispensable guide that readers will turn to for inspiration," says Navratil.

"This book represents an important part of our editorial strategy of 'Seventeen Everywhere' – we want to be everywhere teen girls are ... including bookstores!" says Seventeen Editor in Chief, Ann Shoket. "Running Press is a great fit for us because they understand how to reach the consumer through traditional and non-traditional book channels."

At its core, Seventeen's Ultimate Style Guide will teach teens and young women how to develop their own personal style and provide hundreds of ideas on how to maximize wardrobe options, stretch the dollar, and make everyday basics work in hundreds of ways. The book will be an essential and timeless guide for every girl just as the magazine is the iconic fashion and beauty bible for generations of teens.

Ron Morris, Inks Publishing Deal With CelebrityPress To Release "Counter-Attack"

Ron Morris, author, CEO, and political consultant, has joined with CelebrityPress and noted business development expert, best-selling author and speaker, Brian Tracy, to publish a new book titled, "Counter-Attack: Business Strategies for Explosive Growth in the New Economy." Celebrity Press™, founded by JW Dicks, Esq. and Nick Nanton, Esq, is a business book publisher that publishes books from thought leaders around the world.

Ron Morris is an author, CEO, and political consultant. As a founder of both SaaS (Software as a Service) and localization companies, he is a recognized expert on doing business in Asia and international outsourcing. As creator of Intelligence Guidance, a political consulting firm, Ron is also an acclaimed analyst covering Southeast Asian politics, security and business issues. He is a regular contributor and onscreen analyst for news agencies in Asia, Europe, and the U.S. and advises clients worldwide.

Random House Children's Books Publishes Its First-Ever Exclusive E-Book Original

For the first time in the publisher's history, today Random House Children's Books (www.randomhouse.com/kids) is releasing an e-book original, written by the acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Michael Scott and entitled THE DEATH OF JOAN OF ARC: A Lost Story from the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers / $0.99).

The story is available exclusively in digital format and is the newest addition to Scott's series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, which has sold more than 1 million copies to date in North America. Following on the heels of the publication of The Necromancer (May, 2010), the e-book original is a short story that will fascinate fans.

"With the exception of the two teen characters, Michael Scott's series is based entirely on individuals transplanted from history, mythology, folklore, and legend," explains Beverly Horowitz, Delacorte publisher. "Michael's new e-book original is certain to entertain fans and satisfy them as they wait until the publication of the next book in the six-part series, The Warlock (2011)." For more information about Michael Scott and the series visit www.Facebook.com/SecretsofNicholasFlamel.

Penguin Books Announces Publication of New Lorien Legacies Series

Penguin Books has announced it is to publish 'I Am Number Four' by Pittacus Lore, the first installment of The Lorien Legacies, a mind-blowing new thriller series.

I Am Number Four is a tale of John Smith (aka Number Four) as he desperately tries to outrun his past, escape his mortal enemies the Mogadorian, blend into normal student life and above all pray, his newly found powers, legacies from home; Planet Lorien, don't give him away before he can complete his destiny and protect his future.

In an unprecedented move for Penguin, I Am Number Four will be published simultaneously in two editions on 26 August 2010 - one for adults (Michael Joseph) and a second for Young Adult readers (Razorbill). It has already captured the imagination of publishers around the globe and translation rights have been snapped up by over 18 territories worldwide. The film rights for I Am Number Four have been snapped up by Spielberg for DreamWorks and the movie will be hitting screens in early 2011.

"It became clear after only a few chapters that I Am Number Four is far more than an exceptional thriller, it's a book to fall in love with," said Mari Evans, Fiction Publisher for Michael Joseph.

"I Am Number Four has everything you could wish for: a killer hook, fabulous compelling writing, thrills, tension and surprisingly tender moments. It's fantastic entertainment," commented Puffin Fiction Editor, Sarah Hughes.

Film rights have been acquired by Steven Spielberg for Dreamworks and the movie is due to be released in cinemas in early 2011. I Am Number Four the film will be directed by DJ Caruso and produced by Michael Bay, with an all-star cast including Alex Pettyfer and Glee's Dianna Agron.