HC to Share Evanovich
by John F. Baker -- Publishers Weekly, 4/21/2003
Janet Evanovich, creator of a bestselling series of comedy thrillers about New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum, is dividing her loyalties under a new deal just made for her by Robert Gottlieb at Trident Media Group. He signed what sources said was an eight-figure deal with publisher Cathy Hemming at HarperCollins for two stand-alone novels; but the Plum series will stay at St. Martin's, where three are still under contract, plus some other books. No titles are available on the new books for Harper, but executive editor Carolyn Marino, who will be Evanovich's editor, said the first, for publication next year, is "a witty thriller with high stakes, hot nights, murder and graft." It was a North American hard/soft deal with Avon, plus audio. Gottlieb said movie rights were attracting strong interest (Plum is already spoken for in Hollywood).
