MAIN NEWS HEADLINES
January 18 – January 25, 2007 Edition

Atria to Publish Noah

Charney’s Debut Novel

The Art Thief

NEW YORK, NY/1/17/2007–Atria Books has secured world rights, excluding Spain, to a novel by author Noah Charney, Judith Curr, executive vice-president and publisher announced today. Senior Editor Peter Borland acquired the rights from Lois Wallace of Wallace Literary Agency, Inc. Wallace simultaneously placed Spanish Rights with publisher Seix Barrals. Atria will publish Charney’s debut novel, The Art Thief in Fall 2007.

The Art Thief is a spellbinding, erudite debut novel involving a series of seemingly unconnected art crimes across Europe which are, in fact, all part of a single master plan. It’s full of fascinating art history, a cast of memorable characters, and a twisting, surprising plot that wings its way from Rome to Paris to London.

“It is going to be a true pleasure to publish such a smart and entertaining novel,” Curr said, “The Art Thief is an auspicious literary debut for a young writer of immense talent.”

Noah Charney, just 27-years-old, was the subject of a feature article in yesterday’s New York Times Magazine. He holds two MA degrees in art history, from The Courtauld Institute and from Cambridge University. Currently, he is in the midst of a PhD in the history of art theft at Cambridge, a field he seemingly invented, and is now an art crime expert and consultant. Charney is also the founding director of ARCA (Association for Research into Crimes against Art), the first international think tank/consultancy group on art crime issues, and a non-profit company. It will be based in Rome, and work will begin in 2008. This is his first novel.

“At a young age, Noah Charney has already established himself as the leading international expert on the history of art theft,” Borland said. “In The Art Thief, he brings that unique knowledge to bear in writing a novel that is suspenseful, witty, and full of surprises.”

In 2007, Atria Books will be celebrating its fifth anniversary. In that time, Atria has established itself as one of the most successful imprints in publishing today. With 16 New York Times Bestsellers in 2006, including The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult, The Secret Supper by Javier Sierra, Act of Treason by Vince Flynn and The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner, Atria Books can now boast 103 bestsellers in its short history.

Atria Books is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, part of the CBS Corporation, a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Online, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonsays.com