Short Takes

by John F. Baker -- Publishers Weekly, 1/24/2005

Yet another new book on Abraham Lincoln, this one focusing on the key year 1862, was acquired for Holt by executive editor George Hodgman. Author David Von Drehle, a Washington Post reporter, wrote the well-received Triangle, about the famous early 20th-century New York factory fire. This was a world rights deal with Esther Newberg at ICM.... It was a while between books for Janice Graham, author of 1998's bestselling Firebird, but her second novel has just been sold to Diane Reverand at SMP for North American and German rights. Tentatively titled The Offering, it's about the struggles of an independent woman dressmaker in Victorian England; the sale was made by Loretta Barrett.... A book by Syrian novelist Rafik Schami, a bestseller in Germany, where the author now lives, was bought for Harcourt by Daniel Slager. It's The Dark Side of Love, and is a saga of passion between members of rival families that spans a century of Damascus history. Jennifer Lyons at Writers House was the agent, on behalf of Karl Hanser Verlag in Germany.... A book by actress Jane Seymour that focuses on her other career—home decorating expert—was bought for Bulfinch by publisher Jill Cohen. It's called Putting It All Together, and offers Seymour's advice on how to forge disparate decorating elements into a personal space. The world rights deal was made with Susan Ginsburg at Writers House.