Peter Miller, of PMA Literary & Film, has been busy this week closing foreign deals for, and talking to Hollywood execs about, The Christmas Cookie Club. The female-friendly book, about a group of women who get together one December night to share baked goods and past secrets, was purchased late last month by Judith Curr at Atria; it's rumored to have fetched more than $1 million. Miller is handling film and foreign rights -- S&S bought North American rights -- and said there's been "extraordinary global interest" in the title, which is slated to pub November 2009. (Offers are in from Italy, Germany, Spain and Holland, and Miller is closing a deal with S&S UK.) Calling the book the "C3 franchise," Miller said he's been "circled and approached" about the movie rights, with one offer in already. The book, by Infidelity author Ann Pearlman, revolves around 12 women and is, per Miller, the ideal project for a group of marquee female actresses.
Also just about to make the Hollywood rounds is Dutton's recent acquisition Stay. Allie Larkin's debut novel, about a woman who nurtures a broken heart and survives her failed marriage with the help of a lovable German shepherd, was preempted in the mid five figures and is being shopped by Ian Polonsky at McIntosh & Otis. (McIntosh & Otis also sold print rights.) Polonsky said he's going to be pitching the book, which is slated to pub in 2010, as a "broad romantic comedy" in the spirit of My Best Friend's Wedding meets Must Love Dogs.
