TODAY'S NEWS

Random Reviews its Green Progress
by Jim Milliot
To mark the first anniversary of the formation of its green committee—as well as Earth Day—Random House has issued a progress report on its green initiatives. The company has been focused on reducing its environmental impact by increasing its use of recycled paper and estimated that by upping use of recycled paper to 16% in 2007 it saved 309,058 trees in the year. RH’s 2007 carbon audit found that 88% of its carbon impacts came from the use of paper, and by using more recycled paper RH prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those generated by 2,970 cars in a year. Read on »

Penguin Classics Goes Green With Nature Conservancy
By Rachel Deahl
Doing its share to highlight the environmental cause, Penguin Classics has launched a major campaign supporting The Nature Conservancy's "Plant a Billion Trees Campaign." Starting now and running through August, Penguin Classics is linking the promotion of some of its environmentally-themed titles--from the likes of Rachel Carson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and others--to The Nature Conservancy's push to drive people to donate $1 to plant a tree. Read on »

Cyrus Signs with Disney
For tween girls, there’s no bigger name these days than Hannah Montana. The Disney Channel show starring Miley Cyrus, Montana’s real-life counterpart and daughter of singer Billy Ray Cyrus, reaches more than 164 million viewers worldwide, and her 2007 concert tour sold out each of its 70 dates. Now, Disney Book Group has signed a deal with Cyrus for world rights to her first book, to be published in spring 2009 by the house’s Disney-Hyperion imprint. The book will cover Cyrus’s upbringing in Tennessee, close relationship with her family and rise to fame, and will include family photos and stories as well.

Nearly 15 million Hannah Montana-related books have sold globally to date. Jonathan Yaged, v-p and North America publisher of Disney Book Group, negotiated the deal.

Unbridled, Chelsea Green Strike Film Deals
By Rachel Deahl
The Chelsea Green-published The End of America, by Naomi Wolf, is getting adapted to the screen. The 2007 title, which chronicles the ten steps that lead to a nation's fall into fascism, will be filmed by the documentary team that did The Devil Came on Horseback (also adapted from the book of the same title). Annie Sundberg and Ricki Stern will film Wolf delivering a lecture that delineates the topics covered in her book. According to the publisher, the project will be a "multi-camera version" of the lecture done in "an Inconvenient Truth-style."

Another indie house that might have a future film deal on its hands is Unbridled Books. The Columbia, Mo.-based press has sold film rights to Andrea Portes' debut novel, Hick, to Taylor Lane Productions and Lighthouse Entertainment. The 2007 title, which was a Book Sense Pick, follows a precocious 13-year-old named Luli who runs away from her Nebraska home and heads to Las Vegas.

On Sale Next Week: Sidney Poitier
Charlotte Abbott
Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier returns with Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter, with planned appearances on Good Morning America and Larry King Live. Read on »

Blogs

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Talkback Tuesday
With the economy slowing, is your company changing its plans for BookExpo America? Read on »

AUTHORS ON THE AIR

Authors on the Air: Happy Earth-Day!; A Chocolat Sequel; Kurds, Unwrapped
Today, Oprah chats with environmentalist Sophie Uliano, author of Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life (Collins, $16.95).On The Diane Rehm Show, Joanne Harris discussed The Girl With No Shadow (Morrow, $24.95; unabridged HarperAudio CD, $39.95), her sequel to 1999's bestselling Chocolat.Read on »

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Crane Takes to the Pole
On Saturday April 19 author Megan Crane led an active discussion and signing in L.A. After talking about her new book, Names My Sisters Call Me (5 Spot), the author joined readers in a pole dancing workout. The sell-out crowd took part in Sheila Kelley’s S Factor, which utilizes the striptease workout to help women improve their fitness while cultivating their sensuality. Crane is pictured (l.) with author Liza Palmer (Seeing Me Naked).
Photo credit: Carolyn Deming Submit your pictures here »

JOB OF THE DAY

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