MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
October 12 – October 26, 2006 Edition
Ballantine Acquires
Two More Novels
From Tess Gerritsen
/10/10/06—Tess Gerritsen, whose steadily accelerating sales have propelled her into two concurrent single-digit spots on The New York Times bestseller lists, has signed with Ballantine for two more novels, in a deal made by Ballantine Editorial Director Linda Marrow with Meg Ruley of the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Gerritsen’s new hardcover, THE MEPHISTO CLUB, debuted at #3, and the reprint of VANISH is now in the #7 spot in Paperback Fiction.
The first book under the new contract will be a slight departure from her regular series, although it will continue to feature Maura Isles, the medical examiner who is a frequent protagonist in her books. Much of the novel will be an historical thriller, in the same vein as THE ALIENIST, and the sections with Maura Isles will link a present-day murder with a horrifying string of murders in the 19th century. It is expected that her second book will return to her Boston series featuring Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles.
In related developments, Lifetime Television has acquired the rights to Gerritsen’s THE APPRENTICE, with Lorraine Bracco in the starring role. Alys Shanti of Robert Greenwald Productions will produce, and Alan Sharp is adapting the novel. And Transworld’s Selina Walker has acquired the British rights to these same novels. Gerritsen’s American success has more than translated in Great Britain, where her books have been as high as # 2 on the London Times bestseller charts.
