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Sept 17 – Sept 23, 2012 Edition Berkley Inks Huge Deal for Maya Banks Romance Trilogy

New York, NY, September 17, 2012— Berkley Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), announced today the acquisition of an all-new trilogy of erotic romance novels by New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks. Rush, the first book in the Breathless trilogy will be published in February 2013, followed quickly by the second book Fever in April 2013 and the conclusion Burn in August 2013. Berkley will publish simultaneous digital and trade paperback editions of each book.

Cindy Hwang, Executive Editor of Berkley, acquired World English rights to the trilogy in a seven-figure deal with Kimberly Whalen of Trident Media Group. Whalen also sold Italian rights to Mondadori in a pre-empt and audio rights have been pre-empted by Brilliance Audio in a six-figure deal, with several other foreign rights deals imminent.

“Maya Banks was at the forefront of the erotic romance trend and has been a star on Berkley’s list for several years,” Hwang said. “Her new trilogy will thrill returning fans and is the perfect introduction for readers who fell in love with the intensely provocative storyline in Fifty Shades of Grey.” Hwang also acquired and edited the New York Times bestselling phenomenon Bared to You by Sylvia Day.

In this new trilogy Banks brings her talent for writing edgy, seductive, and darkly sexual novels to a story that will appeal directly to a wide group of readers. The series follows three billionaires—Gabe Hamilton, Jace Crestwell and Ash McIntyre—who are best friends and business partners. The men dominate both in the boardroom and in the bedroom. Each novel in the trilogy will explore the relationship of one of the men as he discovers the woman he will love.

A successful and popular writer in the romance genre, Banks is excited to expand her readership with this new series. “I’m thrilled to be taking another big step with Berkley and my editor, Cindy Hwang. With the mainstream now wide open to the kinds of novels I began writing with the Sweet series in 2007, I look forward to connecting with a whole new array of readers and, of course, my wonderful fans who have been so good to me throughout my career.”