A Time for Sequels

by John F. Baker -- Publishers Weekly, 3/7/2005

Just as in the movies, publishers love to follow up hits with a second helping of the same, and a couple of notable sequels were signed last week. Lalita Tademy, the former top software exec whose Cane River, a fictionalized account of her Louisiana forebears' life as slaves and later was an Oprah pick, is returning to the well of her family saga with Red River. Again her editor is Warner's Jamie Raab, who bought this time from a new agent for Tademy, Kim Witherspoon at Inkwell Management; the deal was for world rights, with pub planned for summer 2006. And the creators of the Hollywood chick-lit hit The Second Assistantare back with a further installment of sweet, gullible Lizzie's adventures in Tinseltown in, yes, The First Assistant (a promotion). Molly Stern at Viking signed authors Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare for North American rights from Emma Parry at Fletcher & Parry, along with a solo effort from Naylor.