Ballantine Raises the Ante
by John F. Baker -- Publishers Weekly, 9/9/2002
The house has taken over the work of ace card handler Jim Swain, the author of gambling comedy-thrillers starring his series hero Tony Valentine. It was a major three-book deal for world English rights, negotiated between agent Chris Calhoun at Sterling Lord Literistic and editor Linda Marrow. First book to be published under it will be Sucker Bet, out next spring, of which Michael Connolly has already said:" Sucker Bet is wonderful, with a cast of characters that would make Elmore Leonard's mouth water." Swain's latest, Funny Money, is out from Pocket, and a movie deal was recently made by Hyperion Films for his Grift Sense.
