TODAY'S NEWS

ABFFE to Fight Indiana Store Registration Law
By Rachel Deahl
The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) has blasted a new Indiana law that requires bookstores to register with the government if they sell what is considered "sexually explicit materials." The new law, H.B. 1042, was signed by Governor Mitch Daniels on March 13, and calls for any bookseller that sells sexually explicit materials to register with the Secretary of State and provide a statement detailing the types of books to be sold. The Secretary of State must then identify those stores to local government officials and zoning boards. “Sexually explicit material” is defined as any product that is “harmful to minors” under existing law. There is a $250 registration fee. Failure to register is a misdemeanor.

ABFFE spokesman Chris Finan said the law is the only one of its kind currently on the books in the country. Calling it "clearly unconstitutional," Finan said ABFFE will urge the Media Coalition to challenge the law at the organization's next meeting on April 9. H.B. 1042 does not go into effect until July, by which time Finan is hopeful the lawsuit will be filed and an injunction issued by the court.

Hollywood Deals: Dave's Divorce Party and Delaney's Apprentice
Universal has optioned the rights to Laura Dave's May 2008 novel from Viking, The Divorce Party. Hollywood agent Sylvie Rabineau has brokered the deal with Echo Films, Jennifer Aniston and Kristin Hahn's new production company. Gwyn Lurie, who adapted Dave's debut novel, London Is the Best City In America for Reese Witherspoon, will again be on board as the screenwriter. Dave's literary agent is Gail Hochman at Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc.

HarperCollins also announced news on the film front: Joseph Delaney’s The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch is headed for the silver screen. The forthcoming Warner Bros. film, currently titled The Spook’s Apprentice (which is the book's U.K. title), will be coproduced by Legendary Pictures with Kevin Lima (Enchanted) tapped to direct. The book is the first title in a seven-part series about a 13-year-old boy who abandons his home life to train as an apprentice soldier and fight against witches, ghosts and other creatures. The book (released in the U.K. by Random House) was originally published in 2005 by HC imprint Greenwillow Books; production on the film is slated to start later this year.

Heaths To Do New Biz Book for Doubleday
Chip and Dan Heath, co-authors of the business hit Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, are inked to a new deal with Doubleday to do a book called Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. The new book, slated for a spring 2010 release, will cover, according to the publisher, "a new model for achieving lasting change in one’s business and personal life." Made to Stick, published by Random House in January 2007, has been included on numerous "best of" lists including BusinessWeek's "Best Business books of 2007."

Editorial director of Currency Doubleday, Roger Scholl, who will be editing the book, acquired North American, first serial, audio and electronic book rights from Christy Fletcher of Fletcher & Parry LLC.

PubWest Nominations Due April 1
Publishers have until April 1 to submit entries to participate in PubWest’s 24th annual book design contest. To be eligible, books must have been published in 2007, but unlike other years, the contest is open to all North American publishers, not only houses in the western states and provinces. Winners will be honored at the annual PubWest conference, which is set this year for November 13-15 in Portland, Ore. Theme for this year’s meeting is “Advancing the Book.” For more info on the awards and conference, go to pubwest.org.

Job Moves
Kate Schafer has opened her own literary agency, kt literary, llc. After 12 years working as an agent in New York, nearly a decade of which was spent at Janklow and Nesbit, Schafer is opening up her new shingle in Denver. She will handle both fiction and nonfiction and is currently seeking submissions in middle grade, YA, and women’s fiction plus pop-culture narrative nonfiction.

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PW Fall Announcement Listings—Reminder
Letters were sent to publishers on February 12 requesting submissions for PW’s June 16 adult announcement listings; deadline was March 14. If you did not receive a letter, contact Dick Donahue immediately (ddonahue@reedbusiness.com); if you haven’t yet submitted your listings info, what are you waiting for?!

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Helen Mirren; Amy Cohen; Louis Ferrante
Authors on today’s Today: Acclaimed Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren discussed her memoir In the Frame: My Life in Words and Pictures (Atria, $35). Also on the NBC morning show, Amy Cohen, author of The Late Bloomer's Revolution (Hyperion, $23.95). Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

HC Fulfills a Wish
On Tuesday, March 25, HarperCollins partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to fulfill the wish of Kayte Gyles. Gyles, who celebrated her 18th birthday that day, and her parents, had breakfast with some of the HarperCollins team to learn more about the publishing process and get a tour of the HC offices. On top of a towering stack of books and some HC goodies, Gyles left with some ideas for her own masterpiece. Pictured (l. to r.) are: Sarah Burningham, associate director of publicity; Scott Gyles; Gayle Gyles; Kayte Gyles; Jeanette Perez, editor; Kate Nintzel, associate editor; Nicole Reardon, marketing manager; Robin Bilardello, art director). Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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