A Selection of Interesting Books...

From Publishers Lunch Weekly:

FICTION/DEBUT:

Reif Larsen's debut novel THE SELECTED WORKS OF T.S. SPIVET, the story of a 12-year old genius mapmaker from Montana, to Ann Godoff at Penguin Press, at auction, for publication in summer 2009, by Denise Shannon at the Denise Shannon Literary Agency (US).

Screenwriter Attica Locke's debut novel BAYOU CITY, about a former civil rights attorney who becomes the target of murder investigation after saving the life of a drowning woman, to Dawn Davis at Amistad, for two books, in a pre-empt, by Richard Abate at Endeavor (world English).

GENERAL/OTHER:

David Ellis's THE HIDDEN MAN, about a man hired by a sinister stranger to defend his boyhood friend against a murder charge -- and acquittal is the only acceptable outcome, to Rachel Holtzman and Ivan Held for Putnam and Berkley, for two books, for publication in Summer 2009, by Susanna Einstein at LJK Literary Management (NA)

Colin McAdam's FALL, the story of two male roommates at a co-ed boarding school -- one cool and confident, one cerebral and frustrated -- and what happens when the girlfriend of the former goes missing during their final year of school, to Sarah McGrath at Riverhead, by Doug Stewart atSterling Lord Literistic.

Author of TUNA FISH: A LOVE STORY Richard Ellis's THE POLAR BEAR, the story of an extraordinary animal and its struggle to survive in an increasingly dangered habitat, to Ashbel Green at Knopf, for publication in 2009, by Steve Wasserman at Kneerim & Williams (NA)

CHILDREN'S/FANTASY:

Janice Hardy's debut fantasy trilogy beginning with THE PAIN MERCHANTS, about a teen war orphan who becomes a pawn in a bigger political game when her uncanny ability to heal by drawing pain turns out to be the only weapon she has to save her sister, to Donna Bray at Balzer &Bray/HarperCollins for their launch list, in a pre-empt, by Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency (world English). query@nelsonagency.com
Translation rights: wlee@fieldingagency.com

NON-FICTION: ADVICE/RELATIONSHIPS:

Executive Director of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program Tina Seelig's WHAT I WISH I KNEW WHEN I WAS 20, ten provocative concepts that challenge readers to see themselves and the world in a fresh light, to Gideon Weil at Harper One, for publication in Summer 2009.

HISTORY/POLITICS/CURRENT AFFAIRS:

NYT bestselling historian (APRIL 1865 & THE GREAT UPHEAVAL) Jay Winik's FATEFUL DECISIONS, an examination of presidential leadership in times of war, to Dominick Anfuso at Free Press, at auction, for publication in 2011, by Michael Carlisle at Inkwell Management (world).

OBAMA: THE HISTORIC CAMPAIGN IN PHOTOS, for publication on October 28, 2008, covering Obama's campaign from its nascent stages through June, in over 150 photographs selected and edited by MacArthur Fellow Deb Willis and an introductory essay by Kevin Merida of the Washington Post, to Dawn Davis at Amistad, by Deb Willis (with Andrew Blauner, at Blauner Books Literary Agency representing Merida).

HUMOR:

Actress and comedienne Elizabeth Beckwith's HOW TO RAISE THE PERFECT CHILD THROUGH GUILT AND MANIPULATION, a humorous and irreverent spoof on a parenting guide that bridges the gap between funny childhood memoirs and edgy self-help manuals, in a very nice deal, to Mary Ellen O'Neillat Collins, by Frank Weimann of The Literary Group.

MEMOIR:

Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin's A FEW SMALL REPAIRS, to Mary EllenO'Neill at Collins, for publication in fall 2009, by Kirsten Neuhaus atVigliano Associates.

POP CULTURE:

SPRING AWAKENING: In the Flesh, the official companion to the Broadway musical, with photographs, handwritten drafts of hit songs, original sketches of costumes and sets, and an annotated, unabridged libretto to Jennifer Bergstrom at Simon Spotlight Entertainment, with Cara Bedick editing, for publication in September 2008, to tie into the launch of the national tour, by Holly Rothman at Melcher Media (NA),

REFERENCE:

Ben Thompson's BADASS, an onslaught of warlords, vikings, samurai,pirates, and military commanders, based on his website www.badassoftheweek.com which gives the warriors of history a pulpfiction-style makeover, to Matthew Benjamin at Collins, by Farley Chase at the Waxman Literary Agency (NA).

Wrap...