Pop Goes Little, Brown, Putnam &Avon
by Judy Quinn -- Publishers Weekly, 4/21/1997
Remember that proposed pop culture imprint at Little, Brown, to be headed by v-p/executive editor Michael Pietsch ("Book News," July 22, 1996)? Well, Pietsch recently told PW that the house has decided to acquire such books for its main list, rather than separate them out with an imprint. Recent acquisitions along these lines include bios of bluegrass pioneer Bill Monr and legendary bluesman Muddy Waters (both set for spring 1999) and the autobiography of rapper KRS-1. Pietsch also just paid a reported $350K advance for a book on the Beatles by Dylan biographer Bob Spitz, which Pietsch claims will be the first outsider look at the Fab Four (as compared to Barry Miles's quasi-authorized bio on Paul McCartney coming this fall from Holt and that still-being-shopped official band book from Apple/Pavilion in the U.K.). And Pietsch told PW he is closing a deal for the autobiography of a rock star, to be revealed next week. And for those wondering where that long-delayed Aerosmith bio landed after agent David Vigliano asked for it back from Putnam (which had paid a $2 million-plus advance), it's with Avon's Lou Aronica, who says a fall 1998, 300,000-400,000 first printing is in his publishing plans. As for Putnam, another pop door...oops... Door has opened, with senior editor Nancsy Neiman's acquisition of the autobiography of Ray Manzarek, drummer for the legendary group the Doors, scheduled for fall 1998 publication.
