The Houston Chronicle
November 1, 1998

Newsmakers:
The book connection

Actor Gene Hackman may soon be making a book connection, since his first novel, "Black Star Rising," a 19th-century sea adventure he's co-written with underwater archaeologist Dan Lenihan, is in the hands of New York publishers. Editors who have seen the manuscript liken it to Patrick O'Brien's historical seafaring series, the latest installment of which, "The Hundred Days," is currently on the bestseller list. Agent Noah Lukeman, an acquaintance of Lenihan's, said the project is being treated strictly as a book property first, with film considerations to follow only after a book deal. Lenihan and Hackman met while scuba diving.