A ghostwriter who has the remarkable record of two top bestsellers in two years (Living History by Hillary Clinton and Ice Bound with Dr. Jerry Nielson) is now doing a book of her own, and HarperCollins has it. She is Maryanne Vollers, who in a book called The Boys Next Door will examine the tradition of sociopathic American outlaws over the years, focusing particularly on Eric Rudolph, recently captured and accused of the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics and an abortion clinic. Her book was bought for North American rights by executive editor David Hirshey, whose history with the author goes back to when she wrote an article for him at Esquire many years ago. Kris Dahl at ICM was the agent.

Another recent buy by Hirshey was of an autobiography of the comic Rodney Dangerfield ("I don't get no respect"), called It Ain't Easy Being Me. This was bought from Chris Calhoun at Sterling Lord Literistic.