Catching up on some celebrity book deals. Rocker Courtney Love has signed a deal with HarperCollins for a “tell-all” memior, according to the publishing  site Galleycat. Love’s untitled memior reportedly will be a no-holds-barred telling of her life from “ childhood to the present day.”

Love was married to deceased rock legend, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Love has had success with her band, Hole, but also personal problems and trouble with drugs in her later years.

Also Galleycat is reporting the autobiography of  Arnold Schwarzenegger is set to hit bookstores in October of 2012. Simon & Schuster has worked out a deal with the former California Governor to publish, ” Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story.” Schwarzenegger’s recent love child scandal/marriage collapse to Maria Shriver will probably make it a best seller from day one of publication.

 Lindsay Lohan’s brother speaks out

Reports are out that troubled Actress, Lindsay Lohan, has voluntarily entered rehab. This will be the fifth time around for Lohan. Her brother, Michael Lohan Jr., says his sister is “fully committed” to making rehab work this time.  Also, he blamed Lohan’s past failures at getting clean on “leeches” in her social circle. More on the People website.

Heroic pilot’s story optioned by Hollywood producers

Photo: Gary Friedman/ Los Angeles Times -- Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and wife Lorrie at the Rose Parade in Pasadena on January 1, 2010

  Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s incredible story is going to be a movie. Captain Sully became a hero on January 15, 2009, when he landed a crippled U.S. Airways jetliner, like a glider, on the Hudson River saving the crew and 155 passengers on board.

Captain Sully was the Grand Marshal of the 2010 Tournament of Roses Parade. Also, he wrote his memoir, “Highest Duty: My Search For What Really Matters,” with Jeffrey Zaslow. Hollywood Producers, Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall  have teamed up with Flashlight Films to option the memoir and develop it into a movie. More details on The Wrap.  

Actor Gene Hackman’s new book

Gene Hackman is going solo for his new novel. The actor has signed a deal with Pocket Books for a western set in 19th century New Mexico, according to GalleyCat. He’s co-authored three other westerns.

Hackman has appeared in nearly 100 films. He won the Best Actor Oscar for the “French Connection” (1971) and Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in “Unforgiven” (1992). Hackman is such a good character actor that it’s said he’s worth watching even in a bad movie.

Hackman  new western, “Jubal’s Bounty,” is due out next July.

Comcast’s Steve Burke replacing Zucker

It didn’t take long for NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker’s replacement to be announced.  No surprise, one of the key players in the Comcast/ NBC Universal deal, Steve Burke, is taking over Zucker’s job. Burke is Comcast’s chief operating officer. Interesting these changes are happening before the Comcast/NBC Universal deal gets final approval from the Feds. Read more on The Wrap.

Madonna sued over “Material Girl”  clothing line

Entertainer, Madonna, has launched a “Material Girl” clothing line with daughter, Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon. Oops!  L.A. Triumph, claims it’s been selling clothes under that label since around 1997 and at some of the same high-ended retailers involved in the new Madonna deal.

This week, the California company sued Madonna. More details in a story on The Los Angeles Times website.

Dr. Laura’s controversial farewell

In the wake of a controversy over her use of the N-word on the air, Conservative Radio Talk Show Host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger,  announced she would pull the plug on her program at the end of the year. Dr. Laura made the surprise announcement on CNN’s “Larry King Live.”

Dr. Laura says she’s taking the drastic step because she wants  her  ”… First Amendment rights back.” Not everyone is buying that reasoning — here’s a good post about it all on The Wrap. Dr. Laura’s radio program can be heard locally on KFWB News Talk 980. 

Oh, click here for Dr. Laura’s blog where she talks about the controversy, her apology, and the support she’s getting from Sarah Palin.

Betty White’s new two-book deal

UPDATED:  Sunday,  August 22, 2010                                                                                                                                                       

 Actress Betty White has another Emmy to add to her collection. White won number  seven last night for best guest actress in a comedy series for her hosting of a “Saturday Night Live” episode, back in the spring.

That award winner was announced during the creative arts section of the 62 Annual  Primetime Emmy Awards, at the Nokia Theater in Downtown Los Angeles.  The winners in some of the major Emmy categories will be announced on a broadcast next Sunday, August 29, 2010, on NBC. 

Actress Betty White is 88-years-old and has a career that’s on the upswing. The Emmy Award-winning actress has gained new fans with her appearance in a hit Super Bowl TV commercial back in February, then in May as a guest host on NBC-TV’s, “Saturday Night Live,” and now she has a role on cable network TV Land’s popular series, “Hot in Cleveland.”  This week it was disclosed White has sealed a two-book deal with G. P. Putnam’s Sons.

The first book, “Listen Up,” will be about life lessons learned during White’s many years in Hollywood. It’s due out in hardcover next spring. By the way, she has been nominated for 20 Emmy Awards and has won six — including two for her role in the 1970s ”The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and one for starring in the hit 1980s series, “The Golden Girls.”

The second book, “The Zoo and I: Betty and Her Friends” will showcase stories and photographs of White and her friends at the Los Angeles Zoo – scheduled to hit the market in 2012.

In a PR Newswire press release, White said she’s enjoying the new challenge: “Much as I love what I do for a living in show business, I love writing even more – so I am thrilled to be working on not only one new book but two of them.”  White is the author of five other books.

Bristol Palin to marry Levi Johnston

That Palin family – never out of the media spotlight for long. The latest news,  Bristol Palin is engaged to former boyfriend and father of her son, Levi Johnston. The couple broke the news to US magazine, which posted the exclusive story and some photos on its website today. The Palins really like US magazine. Remember, Sarah Palin on the above US cover with the couple’s son, Tripp, back in 2008?  

Online vampire book sells to major publisher

Photo from www.martaacosta.com

San Francisco Bay Area Author Marta Acosta has a thing for vampires. Acosta sold her latest fang book by posting it on the website scribd. The YA novel, “The Shadow Girl of Birch Grove,” got tons of reads and was bought recently by Tor Books. GalleyCat has the scoop on how Acosta’s novel scored with online readers and the sci-fi fantasy publisher.

 Tribute to Dennis Hopper

“Dennis Hopper Double Standard” now showing in The Geffen Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown Los Angeles. Celebs like Liv Tyler, Diane Keaton, and Reese Witherspoon turned out for the opening party last Saturday, for this exhibit showcasing the art career of the late, Dennis Hopper. The actor/artist died last May,after a battle with prostate cancer.                                                                                                                            
Vogue website has more on the star-studded affair. The MOCA site has details on the exhibit, which runs through September 26.

Hollywood is gung-ho right now for film projects based on material from other mediums — particularly comics and novels. Screenwriter Suzanne Corso has written a number of unproduced scripts, but she recently hit the big time with her first novel. Corso wrote a coming-of-age story, based on personal experience, about a teenager in Brooklyn during the 1970s who falls for a local Mafioso wannabe, according to Publishers Weekly.

The novel, “Brooklyn Story” was picked up by Simon & Schuster for publication. Also, Director Penny Marshall grabbed the film rights. Some top talent has signed onto the project, among them Lorraine Bracco, Olympia Dukakis, and Armand Assante.

Also listed recently on the Publishers Weekly website, screenwriter/playwright p.g sturges sells his debut Tinseltown crime novel, “Shortcut Man,” to Scribner. The plot centers around a P.I. named Dick Henry and a case involving a Hollywood producer’s cheating wife. The writer’s father is famous Screenwriter/Director Preston Sturges (who did not spell name in all lower case letters). The father won an Academy Award for the screenplay “The Great McGinty” in 1941. He was best known for directing screwball romantic comedies like the classic,”The Lady Eve,” which starred Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck (1941).

Even decades later, the movie comedy “Some Like It Hot” (1959), directed by the legendary Billy Wilder, is still very funny. It’s a true classic that stands up against the changing times and culture. The film stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as two musicians on the run from gangsters who disguise themselves as women and join an all female band. Both fall for the band’s sexy lead singer, Sugar Kane, played by Marilyn Monroe. 

Now 83-years-old, Curtis has hooked up a book deal for a behind-the-scenes memoir about what went on during the filming of “Some Like It Hot.” This tell-all book will include details about Curtis’ relationship with Marilyn Monroe, according to Publisher’s Weekly.  John Wiley and Sons bought the book and plans to publish it this fall to mark the 50th anniversary of the release of “Some Like It Hot.”

Last year, “American Prince: A Memoir” by Tony Curtis and Peter Golenbock hit bookstore shelves. Curtis, born Bernard Schwartz on June 3, 1925, has enjoyed a long acting career and colorful personal life, which have provided him with plenty of material to write about. He appeared in more than 100 films. Also, he married five times, the first to actress Janet Leigh. In his later years, Curtis’ paintings have brought him new fame as a visual artist.

Photo: William P. Gottlieb (1947)

Legendary crooner Frank Sinatra died 11 years ago on May 14, 1998, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after suffering a heart attack. Sinatra was 82. Now the entertainer, known as “Ol’ Blue Eyes” or “The Voice,” is about to live again on the big screen and in the pages of a new book.

Francis Albert Sinatra was born December 12, 1915 in Hoboken, New Jersey and grew up to become one of the best known and most accomplished American singers ever. Also, Sinatra achieved recognition as a stage, television, and film actor. In 1954, Sinatra won the best supporting actor Academy Award for his performance in the classic war flick, “From Here to Eternity.” Sinatra’s personal life was just as extraordinary as his career with alleged ties to organized crime and four wives, including actresses Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow.

This week, there were media reports dealing with a new Sinatra movie to be directed by Martin Scorsese. The famous director has had success with films about billionaire recluse Howard Hughes and controversial prize fighter Jake La Motta. The Sinatra project came together after years of negotiations with the singer’s family and business interests, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The script is by Phil Alden Robinson who wrote the screenplay for the much-loved baseball movie “Field of Dreams.”

Photo: http://www.franksinatragolf.org/

 Meanwhile, Sinatra’s fourth wife has sold a book project to Harmony Books, according to Publisher’s Weekly.  Barbara Marx, a former model and Las Vegas showgirl, was married to Sinatra from 1976 until his death in 1998. The book is tentatively titled, “Life with Frank.” Wendy Holden is co-writing the book with Barbara Sinatra.

Writer Derek Haas has had great success scripting movies for Hollywood. Haas co-wrote “3:10 to Yuma” (2007,) a remake of the classic western film based on acclaimed author Elmore Leonard’s short story with the same title. Along with his partner, Michael Brandt, Haas wrote the screenplay for “Wanted” and several major scripts in development like “The A-Team,” “Beverly Hills Cop IV,” and ”The Thirteenth Hour.”

Now Haas is creating a name for himself as a best selling author with the “Silver Bear” novels. The third installment in the series sold to Pegasus Books recently, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The first book, “The Silver Bear,” about a feared assassin hired to whack his own father, came out last summer. Book two, “Columbus,” is scheduled for release this November.                                              

The director of the original horror flick “Night of the Living Dead” (1968), George A. Romero, is still very much into zombies and the mysterious undead. Romero’s new film “… Of the Dead” is scheduled for release this year. Also, he has signed a two-book deal with Grand Central Publishing, according to Publishers Weekly. Romero’s debut novel will focus on the origin of the zombies and is due out next summer.

Romero, along with John A. Russo, created the black-and-white classic, “Night of the Living Dead” (1968), which is about a group of people trapped in a farmhouse and under attack by zombies. Romero’s credits include ”Dawn of the Dead” (1978), “Day of the Dead” (1985), “Land of the Dead” (2005), ”Diary of the Dead” (2007) and a number of other film and television projects.

Doing time in the big house has not hurt the writing career of ex-Internet hacker, Kevin Poulsen. Publishers Weekly is reporting today that Poulsen has sold his book ”Kingpin” to Crown. In the 1980s and 1990s, Poulsen had quite a colorful reputation as a cyber criminal and was once a fugitive on the run. In one of his notorious hacks, Poulsen reportedly engineered a scheme to rig call-in contests of Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM to win two Porsches, some vacation trips, and thousands of dollars. 

Finally captured by authorities, Poulsen pleaded guilty to a variety of charges including money laundering, mail, wire, and computer fraud in June of 1994. Poulsen was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison. In the past few years, Poulsen has pursued a different career — that of journalist.  He is now a high profile blogger and senior editor of Wired magazine.

Jonathan Littman wrote a book about Poulsen’s cyber exploits. “The Watchman: The Twisted Life and Crimes of Serial Hacker Kevin Poulsen” was published in 1997.  According to his agency’s website, LaunchBooks, Poulsen’s book is a true crime narrative about “… the story of Max Butler, the hacker and former FBI informant who in an incredibly audacious move single-handedly cornered the worldwide billion-dollar black market in stolen credit cards before finally being taken down by an FBI sting.” 

No word yet on how much money Poulsen’s deal is worth or when his book is due to hit store shelves.

Google Image

President Obama’s campaign manager/Internet wizard, David Plouffe, has snagged a mega-book deal worth between $1.5 and $2 million, according to the publishing news site GalleyCat. Plouffe now heads Organizing for America, a new entity that aims to mesh 13-million or so supporters of the Obama campaign into a powerful force to help push the President’s message and issues for change.

I got an e-mail yesterday from Plouffe as part of Organizing for America. Plouffe, in a style he honed during the presidential campaign, wrote a casual, but informative e-mail backing Obama’s economy rescue plan. Also, Plouffe asked supporters to spread the word and attend one of the thousands of Economic Recovery House Meetings scheduled across the country this weekend. No mention of Plouffe’s book deal in this e-mail.    

Still there are media reports that say Viking, an imprint of the Penguin Group, won out over 16 other bidders for Plouffe’s book titled, “The Audacity To Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory.”  The book is due out next fall. 

Funny lady Samantha Bee has parlayed her television gig on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” into a book deal; taking a cue from comedienne/actress Tina Fey.  

Bee signed onto “The Daily Show” back in 2003. The Canadian actress appeared in last year’s Box Office dud, “The Love Guru.” Also, Bee stars with Uma Thurman, Minnie Driver, and Anthony Edwards in the new comedy film, “Motherhood,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last month.

Publishers Weekly reports Bee has signed on with Simon Spotlight for a book of humorous essays due out next year.

“Romeo and Juliet”  by Sir Frank Dicksee (1853-1928)

The publishing industry has been buzzing for months about Danish author Anne Fortier’s “Juliet.”  In the  novel a woman discovers she may be related to the star-crossed lovers who inspired the classic, “Romeo & Juliet.” Today, there are a flurry of reports about Universal Pictures picking up the movie rights for “Juliet.”

Director/producer James Mangold is attached to the project along with his producer wife Cathy Konrad. Mangold and Konrad were involved in the 2007 remake of the western, “3:10 to Yuma,” and are developing the time-travel thriller, “The Archive.”

Last September, “Juliet” sold in a seven figure deal to Ballantine over at Random House. Fortier’s agent Daniel Lazar says the book is that “rare combination of commercial and literary.”  The Hollywood Reporter estimates book rights deals for “Juliet” now stand at around 21 with many foreign rights agreements in the six figure range. ”Juliet” is set to be published in 2010.

The most detailed ever biography of superstar crooner Tony Bennett has been bought at auction by publisher, John Wiley & Sons. Publishers Weekly reports David Evanier’s “Keeper of the Flame: A Biography of Tony Bennett” is set for release in 2011 to mark the singer’s 85^th birthday. 

He was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926. The singer’s career got a big break when Bob Hope asked him to join his stage show. Also, the comedian suggested a name change to Tony Bennett. In 1951, Bennett’s first hit, “Because of You,” topped the music charts. In 1962, Bennett recorded, “I left My Heart In San Francisco.” This salute to the City by the Bay became a classic and his signature song.

 He has won an armful of grammys and a number of other awards. Several decades after his first hit single, Bennett is still performing and recording; a rare artist whose voice just keeps getting better and better.

Joe the Plumber is really stretching his 15 minutes of fame. He’s that Ohio plumber who had a chat with then Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on the campaign trail, early last month. Joe, whose real name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, came away from that encounter criticizing Obama’s tax plan.

Republican Presidential candidate John McCain leaped on this and outed Joe and his experience with Obama during the third presidential debate. It put Joe in the spotlight and despite his complaints about the media attention, he has been clinging to the fringes of that spotlight ever since.

So now it’s official, Joe the Plumber has signed a book deal with small Texas based PearlGate Publishing. The publisher’s author, Thomas N. Tabback, will help Joe write his book, which is entitled, “Joe The Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream.”

After meeting Obama, Joe said he didn’t think Obama was all that. Well, let’s see how Joe’s book stacks up against the several written by the president-elect. Joe’s book is scheduled to be released on December first.  

Gary Fabiano/pool photo

The transition of power at the White House was highlighted last Monday when President-Elect Barack Obama and wife, Michelle, dropped in for a short visit with President Bush and the first lady, Laura. Obama and Bush strolled the White House halls and reportedly had a polite chat about what a mess the country is in.

The visit was probably more enjoyable for the wives. I have to say, Mrs. Obama was styling in a lovely red dress that outshone the disastrous red and black outfit she wore for the election night victory rally. That White House wool crepe empire red dress was created by Chicago designer Maria Pinto. A nice interview with that designer about Mrs. Obama’s fashion style is on the Women’s Wear Daily website.

Mrs. Bush’s belted red dress was not all that exciting, but she has always been a tad on the bland side; so one cannot really criticize her choice. However, Mrs. Bush is getting some good buzz on the literary scene. According to the New York Post, the first lady has a number of publishers interested in buying her memoirs for big bucks.

Earlier, President Bush reportedly put out feelers for his own memories, but was told his public image is too tarnished, both here and aboard. It has been suggested that Bush wait a few decades before thinking of writing a book. I’ll second that.

Sarah Palin                 Tina Fey

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been very good to entertainer Tina Fey, ah, creatively speaking. Fey, an Emmy winning writer and actress, has received tons of kudos and buzz for her recent performances impersonating the Republican V.P. nominee on NBC’s ”Saturday Night Live.”  Also, Fey created the popular and widely acclaimed TV comedy series, “30 Rock.”

Today, Little, Brown Publisher confirmed speculation that it has made a deal for a Fey book. There was a bidding war and some reports say the final deal may be somewhere in the low seven figures. According to a report at Publishers Weekly, the Fey book will be more humor than memoir.

Bram Stoker is credited with writing the definitive novel about a master vampire in his classic, “Dracula” (1897). The 1931 movie, “Dracula,” starring Bela Lugosi was the last work to be authorized by the Stoker family until now. There’s a new project coming that is being written by Bram Stoker’s great-grandnephew, Dacre Stoker, and historian/documentarian, Ian Holt, according to Publishers Weekly.

Penguin’s Dutton imprint has beaten out several other bidders for the U.S. rights to “Dracula: the Un-dead.” The writers will have access to Bram Stoker’s handwritten notes and will include some characters and plot lines left out of the original book. In 1847, Bram Stoker was born in Ireland and he died in 1912.

Dutton plans to publish “Dracula: the Un-dead” next October. Also, a film based on this new novel is scheduled to begin shooting in June of 2009.

 The stock market rallied several hundred points today, after yesterday’s historic plunge on Wall Street.  Monday, stocks dropped 778 points or 7 percent. The biggest point loss ever. Also, the biggest percentage loss since September 17, 2001, the first day of trading after the deadly September 11 terrorist attacks.

The meltdown started when it became clear the highly touted  $700 billion financial bailout for troubled institutions would tank in the House of Representatives. Despite dire warning from the president and congressional leaders, many of the House’s rank and file could not stomach a bill that violated a number of their principles nor justify the so-called rescue for Wall Street to the folks back in their districts. The bailout bill failed 228 to 205.

Meanwhile, the financial mess has turned out to be a boon for the publishing industry and some writers. Although the outcome is still very much up in the air, there are a number of book sales and proposals based on the crisis. Some involve big money!

Several proposals were auctioned off last week. Penguin reportedly paid more than $1 million for a book to be written by New York Times’ Joe Nocera and Fortune’s Bethany McLean. Also, another New York Times journalist, Andrew Ross Sorkin, reportedly sold his book, “Too Big to Fail,” to Penguin imprint Viking for $700 thousand.

Earlier this year, a number of other books on the financial collapse were bought and are already in the publishing pipeline. 

Photo by Vince Caligiuri

King of the gold, swimmer Michael Phelps is cashing in on his Olympic success. In Beijing, Phelps made history by diving into the pool and racing to eight gold medals in a single Olympics. Phelps surpassed the record of seven gold medals set by swimmer Mark Spitz in 1972.

Phelps is only 23, but last week Free Press won an auction for his memoir called “Built to Succeed.” The narrative of the book will be built around his eight terrific wins in Beijing, along with anecdotes about his family, coach, and passion for swimming.

“Built to Succeed” is scheduled for release this December with a first printing of 500,000. They’re searching for a co-author to help Phelps make that deadline.  Also, the deal includes a children’s book for 2009.

Phelps plans to be doing more than writing. In a New York Times August 18 article by sportswriter Karen Crouse, Phelps says he wants to raise the profile of his sport. “My whole goal is to change the sport of swimming in a positive way.”

Phelps would like to see swimming be more than an every four-year event. Meanwhile, Phelps sees himself competing in the sport he loves through the 2012 Olympics in London.

More at Publishers Weekly and The New York Times websites.