S&S Sues CIA
Simon & Schuster has joined with author Valerie Plame Wilson to file a lawsuit against the CIA, charging that the agency is interfering with Plame’s efforts to write her memoir, Fair Game. The suit alleges that the executive branch of the government is trying to stop Plame from using in her book the dates she served in the CIA even though those dates have been made public. According to the complaint, Plame’s service dates had been released by the CIA in an unclassified document and can be found in the Congressional Record. S&S hopes to still keep to its October release date for the book.
Ambassador For Literature Created
The new post of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature has been created by the Children’s Book Council, in concert with the Library of Congress. The ambassador role is being created to honor someone who has contributed greatly to children’s books; it will also spread the word and raise awareness about the importance of reading and children’s literature in general. The name of the first ambassador will be announced in January.
Bowen to Start Kids Imprint at HC
Brenda Bowen, who just left her position at Disney as v-p, editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Global Books, will start a new imprint at HarperCollins Children’s Books. She will begin her new position June 18 and report to Susan Katz, president and publisher of HC Children’s Books. The imprint will include a range of books for all age groups.
New World Buys Inner Ocean
New World Library has acquired the assets of Maui, Hawaii-based Inner Ocean Publishing, a transaction that involved the purchase of 45 titles. Inner Ocean, like New World, had been distributed by Publishers Group West, but unlike New World, Inner Ocean was unable to withstand the bankruptcy of its distributor.
MQP Sells Assets; Sets Up in U.S.
U.K.-based Octopus Publishing Group has acquired selected assets of MQ Publications, an independent U.K. publisher. MQP founder and publisher Zaro Weil retains ownership of the MQP name and logo and plans to shift her publishing operations to MQP’s New York City office. Ingram will distribute.
Sourcebooks Buys Champion Assets
Sourcebooks has acquired the publishing assets of Champion Press. The acquisition includes about 100 backlist titles, which will now fall under the auspices of Peter Lynch, editorial manager for trade books at Sourcebooks. Champion founder Brook Noel is retaining the Champion name and is expected to write for the company. Noel’s 1997 title, I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye, is one of Champion’s bestsellers.
