F i l m P r o p e r t i e s
(a select list)
F
e a t u r e F i l m
·
INTERRED WITH THEIR BONES
by Jennifer Lee Carrell
In the vein of THE DA VINCI CODE, a
thriller about the race to find the lost play of Shakespeare, and to decode the
identity of Shakespeare himself--all while people are being murdered with
methods taken from Shakespeare's plays.
·
JUSTICE
FOR NONE
by Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan
A new novel by the critically-acclaimed writing team of Mr. Hackman and Mr.
Lenihan, tells the story of a murder in Vermillion, Illinois in the 1920s, of a
man wrongly accused, of his flight from the law, and of his search for
justice. A character-driven, highly atmospheric murder/courtroom suspense
story, with strong racial undertones and set against the stock market crash, it
is perhaps best described as a cross between Anatmony of a Murder and The
Defiant Ones.
·
WAKE OF THE PERDIDO STAR
by Gene Hackman and Daniel Lenihan
In the vein of Patrick O'Brian's MASTER AND COMMANDER, a riveting historical
saga set on the ocean in the 1800s. Mutiny, shipwreck, survival, the quest
for revenge, and the coming of age of an 18 year old boy make for a yarn of epic
proportions. A critically-acclaimed page turner, already translated into
several languages.
· SMOKED
by Patrick Quinlan
In the vein of Elmore
Leonard comes an action-packed crime thriller set in Portland, Maine.
Smoke Dugan, an aging bomb-maker, is on the run. His old associates have
tracked him down, and now he needs to evade them, rescue his girlfriend, and use
all his wits, one last time, to make it out alive. This first novel
heralds the debut of a major new writer.
·
THE
GOLDEN VOLCANO
by Jules Verne
A major publishing event: The original
novel that Jules Verne left upon his death, published as it was meant to be for
the first time in the English language. Set in
Canada in the midst of the Gold Rush, tells the story of two cousins who are
left an inheritance: the claim to a gold mine, which may be worth nothing
or may make them rich. They decide to excavate, and thus their adventures
begin.
·
THE
SECRET OF WILHELM STORITZ
by Jules Verne
A major publishing event: The original
novel that Jules Verne left upon his death, published as it was meant to be for
the first time in the English language. Set in Europe in the 1800s, a
spurned scientist concocts a potion to make his would-be lover invisible, and
thus win her back for himself. But it might be too late to turn back
what's already set in motion.
·
METEOR HUNTING
by Jules Verne
A major publishing event: The original
novel that Jules Verne left upon his death, published as it was meant to be for
the first time in the English language. Tells
the humorous and fantastical story of a rivalry between two amateur astronomers
as they each try to seize a sphere of gold which has appeared in space.
·
THE
LIGHTHOUSE AT THE END OF THE WORLD
by Jules Verne
A major publishing event: The original
novel that Jules Verne left upon his death, published as it was meant to be for
the first time in the English language. On an
Island on the southernmost tip of South America a lighthouse is built and three
men are left behind to tend it. Two are murdered by pirates, and against
all odds, the remaining man must survive on the island until help arrives.
·
MAGELLANIA
by Jules Verne
A major publishing event: The original
novel that Jules Verne left upon his death, published as it was meant to be for
the first time in the English language. Set among the islands at the southern
tip of South America, Verne follows the exploits of Kaw-djer, a European whose
rallying cry is "Neither God nor master!" When Chile takes possession
of the remaining free islands, he contemplates suicide, but is deterred by the
need to save a large group of shipwrecked pioneers. A powerful portrayal of a
man seeking the last unsettled corner of the earth.
·
THE YELLOW RIVER
by Jules Verne
A major publishing event: The original
novel that Jules Verne left upon his death, published as it was meant to be for
the first time in the English language. Taking place in 1860, tells the
story of an hungarian fisherman who catches an impressively big fish and wins
the most important fishing contest of the time. Consequently, he boasts he can
travel all along the 2800-km Danube, from Austria till the Black Sea, aboard his
small boat. His adventures and travails follow. Full of plot twists,
and permeated by a beautiful description of the Danube.
·
SUICIDE
SQUEEZE
by Victor Gischler
From the Edgar Award Finalist comes a comic, action-packed crime caper set
in Florida. In the vein of Elmore Leonard.
·
PISTOL
POETS
by Victor Gischler
From the Edgar Award Finalist comes a comic, action-packed crime caper set
in academia. In the vein of Elmore Leonard.
·
GUN
MONKEYS
by Victor Gischler
2002 Edgar Award Finalist. Action packed crime
adventure story, laced with humor and offbeat characters. A first novel.
·
UNTITLED
ON THE DISCOVERY OF THE TOMB OF TUTANKHAMUN
by Daniel Myerson
A major new book on the
discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the passion of archaeologist Howard
Carter, and the supposed "curse" that befell its discoverers.
·
A MILE DOWN
by David Vann
An American travels
to Turkey to fulfill his dream of building a boat and sailing the world.
But he is lured in by the Turks and soon finds himself $500,000 in debt,
and worse, deep at sea in a boat which is falling apart.
A MILE DOWN tells the story of his travails in trying to stay alive, save
his boat, fight the sea, the elements, his debtors and one calamity after
another, as he tries to follow in his father's footsteps.
Reminiscent of A MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.
·
THE THIEF AT THE END OF THE
WORLD
by Joe Jackson
A riveting narrative of the true story of Henry Wickham, a reckless Victorian adventurer who went deep into the malaria-filled jungles of the Amazon and risked disease, death, and the loss of his entire family to grow rich in that contemporary El Dorado, the rubber trade. He failed, but in his despair agreed with the powers in London to raid the Amazon's most treasured possession -- its supply of Hevea brasiliensis, the valued source of "India-rubber" which grew nowhere else in the world. His unlikely success of smuggling 70,000 seeds to London changed the world economy, bankrupting Brazil, handing the world monopoly in rubber to the British Empire, and turning the U.S. against the U.K. just as the American automobile revolution envisioned a world dominion of its own.
·
THE LINGUIST AND
THE EMPEROR
by Daniel Myerson
Incredible true story of the historical search
and discovery of the Rosetta Stone, which unlocked the key for understanding all
ancient civilization. At its center are Napoleon, who funds the search, and
Champollion, a boy who speaks 12 languages at age 6 and would eventually make
the discovery. Major six figure advance from Random House. Ancient Egypt is hot
right now (The Mummy).
·
COLD
by John
Smolens
Fargo-esque novel about a prison breakout and cat-and-mouse chase,
set in the little-known terrain of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
·
LEAVENWORTH TRAIN
by Joe Jackson
Edgar Award Finalist 2002.
True story of the incredible escape and breakout from
Leavenworth Penitentiary in the early 1900s, and of the nearly 40 years the lead
convict, Frank Grigware, spends on the run before being caught. By the
Pulitzer-Prize nominated author of Dead Run. Many excellent reviews.
·
MY
FATHER'S KEEPER
by Rachel Howard
When Rachel Howard was a child, she witnessed her father's murder before her
eyes. Now, 20 years later, she struggles to piece together the clues
of her past, and to finally find her father's murderer and bring him to
justice. A true story. In the vein of
Ellroy's My Dark Places.
·
THE
WORK OF WOLVES
by Kent Meyers
A new novel by the critically-acclaimed author of The River Warren, tells
the story of a young horse-trainer with an uncanny knack of understanding
horses, and his illicit love affair with the woman he trains, the wife of a
powerful rancher. Set in the West, with a strong presence of Native
Americans, it might be thought of as a more profound, more literate Horse
Whisperer.
·
INVISIBLE
WORLD
by John Smolens
New novel by John Smolens (Cold), centering around a son's (30s) search for
his invisible, perhaps CIA father.
· DEAD
RUN
by Joe Jackson and William Burke
True story of the only mass escape from death
row in the history of the United States—and from the most secure penitentiary.
Six men escape together and are on the run for 19 days. Nominated for the
Pulitzer Prize. Dozens of excellent reviews. Optioned by HBO. (option has
lapsed)
· 15
TO LIFE (UNDER OPTION)
by Anthony Papa with Jennifer Wynn
True life Birdman of Alcatraz/Shawshank
Redemption story. Tony Papa does 12 years of hard time in the notorious
Sing-Sing for passing 3 ounces of cocaine. He takes up painting and paints his
way out of prison. There have been many offers over the years for his life rights.
· THE
WISDOM OF FORGIVENESS
by His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Victor Chan
A major new book by the Dalai Lama. Tells the story of the first ethnic
Chinese to be granted an audience with him, and of their three years traveling
together. Tuesdays With Morrie with the world’s most beloved religious leader.
In the vein of Kundun, The Last Emperor, or 7 Years in Tibet.
·
THE
SPECKLED MONSTER
by Jennifer Lee Carrell
True, historical story of the courageous, pioneering woman--Lady Mary
Wortley Montagu—who traveled to Turkey in the 1700s and discovered the notion
of Smallpox innoculation. She proves herself correct in the face of the
establishment and at her childrens’ own risk and saves all of Europe from
Smallpox. Won in a major six figure deal, in a heated auction. Will be a major bestseller.
· A
FURNACE AFLOAT
by Joe Jackson
In the vein of the Mutiny on the Bounty
and the bestseller (and hit TV movie) In the Heart of the Sea comes the
true story of the 1866 survivors of the clipper ship Hornet, who barely
lived for 43 days on ten days’ rations and shoe leather, who drifted 4,000
miles in a single lifeboat as they all slowly weakened and became delirious or
mad. A miraculous story of shipwreck, survival, sharks, whirlpools, cannibalism,
mutiny, hallucinations, near-rescues, and 43 days of man against nature. One of
the three great shipwreck stories of all time.
·
AMONG THE MISSING
by Dan Chaon
2001 National Book Award Finalist. The most
talked about story collection of the decade. One of the stories already
under option.
·
AMERICAN SON
by
Brian Ascalon Roley
Two filipino brothers growing up in the
gang-infested inner city of Los Angeles. Finalist for the prestigious 2001
Pacific Rim Prize. A
Filipino American History X.
·
HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
by Laura Denham
First novel about a girl’s exploits in the
sex industry in San Francisco. Beautifully written. Based on a true story. A
darker Pretty Woman.
· THE
END
OF MISS KIND
by Donald Rawley
Classy murder mystery set in Los Angeles.
Beautifully written novella. Excellent reviews.
· AN
EXPENDABLE MAN
by Margaret Edds
The true story of the 20 year saga of Earl
Washington, Jr., only the 8th prisoner on Death Row to be set free
due to DNA evidence. Heartbreaking story of a poor, black, mentally-retarded man
who does 20 years time for no reason, and how a team of lawyers and DNA saves
him. We have exclusive life rights. Think Dead Man Walking meets To
Kill a Mockingbird.
· SHOOTING THE HEART
by Paul Cody
A new novel by the critically-acclaimed author of So Far Gone, Eyes Like
Mine and The Stolen Child, tells the story, in Memento like fashion, of a
man who, while sitting in a mental institution, struggles to remember, to piece
together his past and come to the realization if he did or did not murder his
wife.
·
GUNBALL HILL
by Ellen Cooney
A new novel by the renowned teacher of fiction at Harvard and MIT, it is a
sweeping epic of the Revolutionary War, people with strong female
characters. Unlike The Patriot, the story is set where it should be--the
Northeast.
·
A
PRIVATE HOTEL FOR GENTLE LADIES
by Ellen Cooney
A new novel by the renowned teacher of fiction at Harvard and MIT, it tells
the story of a male brothel in Boston in the late 1800s.
·
GANGSTERS AND
GOODFELLAS
by Henry Hill as told to Gus Russo
After 25 years comes the sequel to the Academy Award winning classic Goodfellas.
·
HOW I LEFT THE GREAT STATE OF TENNESSEE AND
WENT ON TO BETTER THINGS
by Joe Jackson
From the six time Pulitzer Prize nominee and Edgar Award Finalist comes a
picaresque novel of social realism set in the 1960s south, which draws its
themes from the wanderings of Appalachian migrants, the Tennessee Valley
Authority, cockfighting rituals, the Bay of Pigs, the Freedom Rides, and
restless youth of the early 60s.
Television
·
GLORY, PASSION AND
PRINCIPLE
by Melissa Lukeman Bohrer
Tells the little-known story of
eight remarkable women who helped found and form the country that is America
today, women as important in their own way as George Washington or Thomas
Jefferson, but completely overlooked in the annals of history.
Could be
great mini-series.
·
INSIDE
CENTCOM
by Lieutenant General Michael "Rifle" DeLong with Noah Lukeman
A
definitive behind the scenes of our country at war, from the military
perspective of Tommy Franks' #2 commanding General. It offers a
behind the scenes look at the planning and execution of the wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq, and sheds light on top administration officials in a warlike
situation, including George Tenet, Donald Rumsfeld and President Bush.
·
BLOOD AND SPLENDOR
by Daniel Myerson
Profiles of the lives of five tyrants: Nero,
Mussolini, Hitler, Saddam Hussein. Information never seen before. Lively
stories. Could be great mini-series.
·
SUBMERGED
by
Daniel Lenihan
Founder and Chief
of the United States National Park Service’s elite Underwater team. Has been
the subject of many documentaries on ABC, CNN, Discovery, History, etc. An underwater Indiana Jones.
· IN
THE NAME OF SCIENCE
by Andrew Goliszek, Ph.D.
From the US government injecting its citizens
with Plutonium to Japanese planes filled with fleas infected with Bubonic
plague, the true story of the horrifying history of human experimentation.
· THE
FORGOTTEN STORM
by Wallace Akin
True story of the worst tornado in US history—the
Great Tri-State Tornado of the 1920s, which picked the author up and carried him
(and his house) away. Think Twister.
(to inquire, click here)
(for a complete list of titles, click here)