Disney Town Sparks (at Least) Two Books
by Judy Quinn -- Publishers Weekly, 3/10/1997
What are the social implications of -- and what's it like to live in -- the new Disney-planned community of Celebration, Florida? Those questions will be explored in at least two books that probably won't be out until spring 1998. In a six-figure contract negotiated by agent Elyse Cheney, Ballantine executive editor Peter Borland acquired a proposed book on the topic by hotshot New York professor Andrew Ross, who's already been the subject of consumer magazine profiles and who plans to move down to the community soon. Holt associate publisher Marian Wood has acquired from agent Dominick Abel a proposed book on the topic by New York Times journalist Douglas Frantz, who has already bought a house in the community and will move there with his wife, Catherine Collins (who will serve as coauthor), and kids. Wood told PW that Frantz plans to start a book club in Celebration as a way to participate in the community. And as for any tie-in Hyperion publishing deal, rumor has it the house was offered the chance to do a photo/architecture book but decided to pass on the project for now.
