Janet Evanovich Joins Random House, 4 New Titles Due

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July 26 – Aug 1, 2010 Edition Janet Evanovich Joins Random House, 4 New Titles Due

(NEWYORK, NY/AUTHORLINK NEWS/July 26, 2010–Janet Evanovich, one of the world’s biggest-selling and fastest-growing novelists in both print and digital formats, will join the Random House Publishing Group to be published in the U.S. and Canada by Ballantine Bantam Dell. The publisher acquired worldwide hardcover, paperback, audio, and e-book publication rights for four new Evanovich novels from Peter Evanovich, the author’s agent and son. Terms were not disclosed. The announcement was made today by Gina Centrello, President and Publisher of the Random House Publishing Group, who said, “Janet is one of just a handful of prolific novelists who are truly a growth brand unto themselves for booksellers and readers.”

More than 75 million copies of Ms. Evanovich’s 33 novels have been sold around the world. Her June title, “Sizzling Sixteen,” debuted at #1 on the N.Y. Times Hardcover Fiction list, as did the previous 10 books in her enormously popular series starring bounty hunter Stephanie Plum. Her new titles are huge simultaneous e-book bestsellers, as is her backlist, and each of Ms.Evanovich’s novels also are million-copy paperback bestsellers. Her foreign sales also are large and growing.

The world publication rights for the new Evanovich novels were acquired by Jennifer Hershey, Editor-in-Chief, Ballantine Bantam Dell. Two of the books will be Stephanie Plum novels, and the other two will be in the author’s newer “Unmentionable” series. The first will be published simultaneously as a Bantam hardcover and e-book edition in Summer 2011. Ms. Hershey said, “Janet’s storytelling gets better with each book. Her characters and locales are so richly developed and her plots are always surprising.”

Janet Evanovich said, “I started my career as a Bantam author, and I’m very excited to be returning. Their sales, distribution, and marketing make them the perfect partner for me and my work. Load up the U-Haul; break out the pizza and the beer — it’s moving day for Stephanie, Joe, Ranger, Diesel and me!”

Libby McGuire, Publisher of Ballantine Bantam Dell, commented, “I have been a huge Janet Evanovich fan since reading “One For the Money,” the first Stephanie Plum, so it’s personally thrilling to have the opportunity to publish her and to begin what will be a long and productive relationship. In a challenged marketplace for popular fiction her readership continues to grow with each new book. In addition to being a great storyteller, she is a nonstop, highly inventive, and wildly effective promoter of her books.”

Ms. Evanovich is also the author of the “Alex Barnaby” series, and she has several other new series in development. Filming began this month on the theatrical film version of “One for the Money,” with Katherine Heigl as Stephanie Plum.

“Janet’s arrival at Ballantine Bantam Dell makes an already potent imprint truly dominant in commercial publishing,” added Ms. Centrello.