Deals - Between the lines: the inside scoop on what's happening in the publishing industry

Black Issues Book Review, Jan-Feb, 2003 by Mondella S. Jones

Villard/Strivers Row Editor Melody Guy recently signed Emmy-winning writer, director and current HBO executive Elaine Brown to a two-book deal for her debut novel, Lemon City, and a sequel. Strivers Row has tentatively scheduled Lemon City for release in 2004. Victoria Sanders of Victoria Sanders & Associates is Brown's agent. Guy also acquired Follow Your Nose, a memoir by Lisa Price, owner of the cozy Brooklyn-based body product shop Carol's Daughter. Price will share her journey from bankruptcy to owning a company that has $2 million in sales. Villard will publish Follow Your Nose in the spring of 2004. Finally, Guy acquired, for Random House, a memoir titled Death of Innocence by 81-year-old Mamie Till-Mobley (from Manie Barron).

In 1955, Till-Mobley's then 14-year-old son Emmett Till was brutally murdered in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at a white woman.

Next up, Russell Simmons' DEF POETRY JAM: The Anthology. Riding the wave of success of Def Poetry on HBO and on Broadway, Atria Books will publish the collection, which brings together performance and literary poets featured in both versions of the show. Simmons and the show's co-creator, Stan Lathan, conceived the book project. Russell's brother Danny Simmons, author, poet and Def Poetry cofounder, will serve as editor. Under the direction of Atria Books Executive Vice President and Publisher Judith Kerr, Senior Editor Malaika Adero acquired the anthology from Manie Barron of the William Morris Agency. DEF POETRY JAM: The Anthology is scheduled for release in October 2003. Danny Simmons' novel Three Days as the Crow Flies will be released from Atria Books in June 2003.

Dawn Davis, editorial director at Amistad/ HarperCollins signed Edward P. Jones to a two-book deal that includes a debut novel, The Known World, and a second story collection tentatively titled All Aunt Hagar's Children. Jones' debut short story collection, Lost in the City: Stories, was a National Book Award finalist in 1992 and winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award for best first fiction. The Known World is about the lives of slave-owning blacks and whites in antebellum Virginia and will be published in the fall of 2003. Eric Simonoff of Janklow Nesbit brokered the deal.

Agent Faith Childs sold David Haynes' next book The Majordomo's Daughter to Janet Hill, vice president and executive editor of Doubleday/Broadway/Harlem for publication on the Doubleday imprint. Haynes' previous titles include Live at Five, Somebody Else's Momma, All American Dream Dolls, and Heathens.

Crown editor Chris Jackson recently signed Kimeli Naiyomah to write a fablelike memoir about his journey from being an unwanted orphan in a Masaai tribe in Kenya to Stanford University where he is a star premed student. Naiyomah leads a dual life as a student here in the U.S. and as a Masaai warrior (he began the traditional initiation process) in Kenya. After 9/11, Naiyomah returned to his homeland with the challenge of trying to describe the horrific events of 9/11 to a tribe unfamiliar with skyscrapers, airplanes and mass destruction. The Masaai people were so moved that they donated 14 cows, their most prized possession, to the United States to show their grief and support. Naiyomah received over 5,000 emails of gratitude from residents all across the U.S.

Carol Mackey, editor-in-chief of Black Expressions Book Club, has acquired book club rights to Baby Momma Drama by Carl Weber, Acting Out by Benilde Little, A Taste of Reality by Kimberla Lawson Roby as main selections, plus Wrapped in Rainbows by Valerie Boyd and Rising by Darnella Ford as alternate selections of the club. Roby's novel was also selected as a Literary Guild featured alternate.

Call for Submissions

Anthology of Creative Works by Teachers

Editors are seeking creative works by teachers for an anthology. All genres are welcome, including poetry, fiction, drama and visual art. For more information, email gbc@csu.com. The deadline is May 1st and submissions should be mailed to:

Teachers Anthology c/o Gwendolyn Brooks Center of Black Literature and Creative Writing Chicago State University I 9501 S. King Drive, LIB 210-A Chicago, IL 60628

Grandparent Anthology

Do you have fond memories of a grandparent? Independent editor Lollie Ragana is looking for poetry and nonfiction prose for possible inclusion in an anthology celebrating this special relationship. Forward your submission of no more than 1200 words to LollieRagana@aol.com. Deadline is Saturday, February 1, 2003.

Do you have publishing news you would like mentioned? E-mail: bibredit@cmabiccw.com