Big Payday for 'Yoga King'

Baron Baptiste, seen here in a typical relaxed pose, is known as "the king of American yoga," so when agent Ling Lucas offered a book proposal around, there was a flurry of interest. The keenest was shown by senior editor Caroline Sutton at Simon & Schuster's trade paperback division, who shelled out well into seven figures for a two-book deal embracing North American, audio and first serial. The first book—in which Baptiste, who has a huge national following for his videos, audios and seminars, will offer motivational and diet advice for yoga practitioners—will be a rare Fireside hardcover next spring.