Kristin Billerbeck's debut novel, What a Girl Wants, has been optioned as a film to Grammy-winning recording artist Rebecca St. James, who is poised to produce and star in the leading role.

When successful patent attorney Ashley Stockingdale realizes that despite "having it all" on paper, she is 31 and single, she turns the tables on the dating game to comedic and surprising results. What a Girl Wants paints an all-too-realistic picture of a single girl's search for being content with who she is, with or without a man.

Elizabeth Beckwith Pens Edgy Parenting Guide

The first and most important step in the "Guilt and Manipulation" philosophy is the source from which all other steps derive: This is where you establish the basic principle that, "We do things a certain way, and everyone else is an asshole."

In actress and comedienne Elizabeth Beckwith's hilarious and irreverent spoof of a parenting guide, How to Raise the Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation, she bridges the gap between funny childhood memoirs, such as David Sedaris' Naked, and edgy self-help manuals like The Three Martini Playdate.

HarperCollins will publish How to Raise the Perfect Child Through Guilt and Manipulation.

Legendary Voyage Memorialized as Film

Award-winning journalist Peter Stevens' The Voyage of the Catalpa has been optioned for a film by legendary producers James Flynn and Morgan O'Sullivan of Braveheart and Tudors fame.

The Voyage of the Catalpa brings to life Captain George Anthony's risky sail across international waters to Australia, where he rescued from hellish imprisonment the group of British-soldiers-turned-Irish-rebels named "The Fremantle Six". The successful escape and hostility the vulnerable Catalpa overcame both from the British Royal Navy and furious seas has made Anthony's historical voyage legendary.

Dare to Have Hot Sex

America's favorite seduction expert, Laura Corn, is back with a spicy new book of suggestions for the bedroom. In 101 Sexy Dares, Laura embarks on her mission to inspire couples to break out of their comfort zones. 101 suggestions are labeled "for her eyes only" or "for his eyes only" and sealed in envelopes bound into the book, which includes techniques, ingredients and dares that challenge the reader to surprise his or her partner with mischievous and sexy tricks. The follow up, Passport to Pleasure, will feature a year's worth of seductions inspired by the world's best sex.

Laura Corn is the author of the bestselling 101 Nights of Grrreat Sex and 101 Nights of Grrreat Romance. Her "Have Hotter Sex/Ask Laura Corn" column appears on iVillage.com, which receives more than 17 million unique visitors each month.

What the Future Holds

Robert Shapiro's Futurecast: How a Sole Superpower, Populations and Globalization Will Change the Way You Live and Work was recently added to the list of "Books That Drive the Debate" by the National Chamber Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The prestigious list represents a selection of 10 books written by business leaders, policy experts and leading think tanks that NCF recommends industry leaders read to better understand public policy changes.

In Futurecast, Shapiro offers predictions for major shifts in our lives over the next dozen years. Shapiro believes that four major forces - globalization, demographics, politics and the status of energy sources as influenced by the environment's shift - will shape the rise and fall of nations.

Nominations for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year

Kim Thiboldeaux, Mitch Golant and Katina Jones' The Total Cancer Wellness Guide has been nominated for ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year in the Health category. Organized into four sections that span the cancer-management process from diagnosis through the unpredictable future, this guide covers everything people with cancer and their families need to know about being active participants in their own long-term plan for well-being.

General Joseph P. Franklin's Building Leaders the West Point Way was also nominated in the Business and Economics category. More than just another leadership checklist, Building Leaders the West Point Way teaches the profound and timeless principles instilled at America's foremost leadership institute.

Winners of this prestigious award will be announced at the Los Angeles Book Expo in late May.

Laura Vaccaro Seeger Sweeps the Globe

Children everywhere just can't get enough of Laura Vaccaro Seeger's innovative picture books. Her Caldecott Honor Children's book, First the Egg, was recently licensed to a slew of foreign publishers, including the British rights to Frances Lincoln; the Chinese rights to Taiwan Mac Educational Co.; the French language rights to Kaleidoscope; the Korean rights to Mirae Media and Books; and the Hebrew language rights to Kinneret.

Seeger's bestseller Dog and Bear: Two Friends, Three Stories and its sequel Dog and Bear: Two's Company have also been acquired for Japanese language rights by Crayonhouse Co. Additionally, her book of opposites, Black? White! Day? Night!, was licensed for French language rights to Kaleidoscope.

Hilary Swank to Produce Falling Out of Fashion as a Film

Hilary Swank and producer Molly Smith have launched the shingle 2S Films and inked a two-year, first-look pact with the Warner Bros. affiliate Alcon Entertainment. The banner is putting together its debut slate, which includes a project based on Karen Yampolsky's novel, Falling Out of Fashion, which may be a potential starring vehicle for Swank. Falling Out of Fashion centers on a woman who leaves a Georgia hippie commune for New York City with dreams of becoming a magazine editor.

Detective's Story Graces the Small Screen

Detective, the story of undercover cop Kathy Burke's career written by Burke and Neal Hirschfeld, has been optioned by Sony Television and Larkin-Goldstein Productions. During her 23 years on the New York City police force, Burke became the most highly decorated female detective in the 160-year history of the department. Michael Larkin and Michael Goldstein intend to produce Detective as a television series. The pilot for the series will be written by Sharon Lee Watson, supervising producer for The Unit.

Largo's Inventive Reference Titles Sell Globally

Michael Largo's Final Exits recently celebrated its fifth international sale. Foreign rights for the book have been sold to Italy, Japan, the Czech Republic, Korea and Greece. The follow up, The Portable Obituary, has also been placed in Brazil and Denmark.

His trio of books addressing the art of the famous demise was recently concluded with Genius and Heroin: Creativity and Reckless Abandon Through the Ages, an archive of the self-destructive lives and deaths of the extremely gifted from all arenas, including actors, politicians, athletes, scientists, musicians and military leaders.

Final Exits was awarded the 2006 Bram Stoker Award in the category "Superior Achievement in Nonfiction".

Shapiro's Predictions Are a Global Affair

Futurecast: How a Sole Superpower, Populations and Globalization Will Change the Way You Live and Work has been licensed to ten countries and counting, including Portugal, Russia, China, Brazil, Spain, Japan, the UK, Korea and Taiwan. In his groundbreaking book, the former Undersecretary of Commerce and Bill Clinton's principal economic advisor, Robert Shapiro, offers predictions for major shifts in our lives over the next dozen years. Futurecast was published by St. Martin's Press in the U.S.

Wellness Guide Improves Quality of Life

Kim Thiboldeaux’s The Total Cancer Wellness Guide has already been awarded a National Best Book of 2007 award in the category of Health, as presented by USABookNews.

Kim is a national spokesperson for The Wellness Community, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free education to people affected by cancer. In The Total Cancer Wellness Guide, co-written with Mitch Golant and Katina Jones, Kim offers a comprehensive look at a long-term plan for well-being catered to cancer patients and their families. The Total Cancer Wellness Guide compassionately addresses the physical, emotional, social, and practical needs of today's cancer patients and survivors. Kim’s advice will help to prepare readers for wellness that can follow throughout the rest of their lives.

And the Winner Is…

Laura Vaccaro Seeger’s latest title, First the Egg, has been awarded a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and received a starred review in the September issue of Kirkus Reviews, in which it is called, “Another perfectly pitched triumph from an emerging master of the concept book.” It also received a starred review in the Nov/Dec 2007 issue of The Horn Book, claiming, “The best picture books create a world in themselves, and this tour de force is one of them.”

Seeger’s recent decorated picture book, Dog & Bear won the 2007 Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Excellence in children’s literature.  It was also named one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Children’s Picture Books of the Year for 2007.

Laura’s book of opposites, Black? White! Day? Night! was recently named one of "A Baker's Dozen: The Best Children's Books for Family Literacy from 2007" by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book. 

The Portable Obituary Named Book Club Pick

Bookspan will offer Michael Largo's The Portable Obituary as an alternate selection in the Quality Paperback Book Club and Book of the Month Club/Smart Reader's Rewards. The book will also appear as a listing in Mystery Guild and Doubleday Book Club.

More Good News for The Alchemyst

Amazon.com decided that 12 months is too long to wait to announce the Best Books of 2007, so they have expanded their informal "Best Books of the Year... So Far" list to four categories with ten books in each. Michael Scott's The Alchemyst has been selected as 1 of 10 in the Children and Teen category.

Eric Haney Makes Teen Age 2007 List

Inside Delta Force by Eric Haney has been selected for inclusion on the New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age 2007 List. Now in its 78th year of publication, the Teen Age List selects the best of the previous year's publishing for teenagers.

Praise for Final Exits

Final Exits by Michael Largo won the 2006 Bram Stoker Award in the category "Superior Achievement in Nonfiction".

Discover the Secret to Eternal Life in The Alchemyst

The Alchemyst, the first of an incredible six-book deal for Michael Scott's fantasy series, caused an avalanche of interest both internationally and in Hollywood. It has already been sold to 29 international publishers including houses in France, Brazil, Japan, Spain, China and Russia. World-renowned Survivor producer Mark Burnett recently bought the film rights and immediately struck a deal with New Line Cinema.

The Alchemyst begins with Nicholas Flamel, who was born in 1330 as a poorly paid bookseller that became the greatest Alchemyst of his day. The records show him dying in 1418; little do we know, Nicholas Flamel is still alive.

Known as bookstore owner Nick Fleming, he has discovered how to create the elixir of life, and has hidden his secret within the Book of Abraham the Mage - the same book that was just stolen from his store. With the help of his bookkeeper, he sets off to retrieve the book, crossing the boundaries of time and space to save the world from the most powerful magic in history.

Television Rights Optioned for Paul Ciolino

St. Paul, a treatment based on Paul Ciolino's life as a private investigator, was just optioned for television with Mark Gordon (Gray's Anatomy) and Margaret Nagle for Touchstone Pictures, a division of Disney. St. Paul will explore Paul's experiences in both national and international cases, including his aid in the unprecedented overturning of the entire death row population in Illinois in 2003.

Amp Up Your Sex Appeal

Millions have experienced Carmen Electra's charm, vivaciousness and drop-dead sex appeal from afar through her esteemed modeling and acting career. Finally, men and women alike can bring Carmen home. In her new book, How to be Sexy, Carmen shares her unique perspective on what defines sexiness and how to project an alluring aura to feel sexy inside and out.

Punctuated with dozens of photographs, How to be Sexy offers tips on how to flirt, how to walk and talk with poise and elegance, and how to command a room. Carmen also takes us behind the scenes to her wardrobe, where she offers fashion and makeup advice, so that any woman can find a flattering outfit that she feels sexy and confident in.

Spam Filter Not Included

After years of being on the A-LIST as the star and creator of Welcome Back Kotter, Gabe Kaplan had become a faded celebrity. After receiving a query to participate on a celebrity boxing show, Gabe decided to respond back with a ridiculous e-mail. The producers believed him, setting off a spark in Gabe's head. In the tradition of Letters from a Nut, Gabe has compiled a hilarious book of real e-mails sent by him to people and their incredible responses in Gabe Kaplan.com.

Prestigious Club Chooses Ship of Ghosts

Ship of Ghosts by James Hornfischer has been chosen as the main selection of the History Book Club as well as a main selection of the Military Book Club. Hornfischer's previous book, Last Stand Of the Tin Can Sailors was also chosen by these prestigious book clubs.

Novella Worth More Than Just 50 Cents

Bestselling street-lit author Relentless Aaron signs a new deal for a novella he will co-write with rapper 50 cent, which is one of the first novellas penned for 50's upcoming G-Unit publishing division at Simon and Schuster. The G-Unit Books line has a publication date of 2007, and is seeking out hip-hop novellas, street fiction and graphic novels.

Kanye as a Kid

Parenting isn't easy, let alone bringing up an international superstar and hip hop mogul. Donda West has experienced the ups and downs of raising a conscientious and hugely successful child, which her son and rapper Kanye West has alluded to in the lyrics of his two multi-platinum albums. Now, Donda shares her perspective on Kanye's childhood, his decision to be an musical artist and how he came to be the megastar that he is today in Raising Kanye, the first true biography of her son.

The Man's Cure for Marriage Jitters

Remembering his slow and inevitable crawl toward happily ever after, Michael Crider's new Guy's Guide to Surviving Getting Engaged, Tying the Knot, and the First Year of Marriage chronicles the highs and lows of a relationship progress: from the nauseating dating days of "No, I love you more!" to his own embarrassing version of "Meet the Parents;" from plotting his proposal to the wedding and reception itself (a.k.a. "booze, the bride and blue balls"). For men under pressure to propose or newly affianced, newlywed or veteran to the husband hustle, Michael Crider's flawed attempts at both grand romantic gestures and small attempts to control his fate will be all-too-familiar.

A prequel to Michael Crider's successful first book about fatherhood, this is a humorous look at his transformation from a Ladies' Man to his lady's main man.

Carmen Bryan Spills Her Secrets

Carmen Bryan is no stranger to the rap world. Not only did she work at Def Jam and Capitol Records but she shares a daughter with hip-hop superstar Nas, a relationship made public through Nas's celebrity status, rap lyrics, and the ever-present media. Now, a strong, resilient Carmen tells her side of the story in It's No Secret, which became an instant bestseller when it hit bookstands.

From a clandestine relationship with Nas's biggest rival, Jay-Z, that stirred up the biggest feud in hip-hop history, to seeing her reputation in tatters and a once loving relationship with Nas fall apart, Carmen depicts her arduous journey of becoming the strong woman and mother she is today. After years of turmoil that included drugs, sex, greed, violence, criticism from the media, and abandoning what she had always prized above all, her freedom, Carmen sets the record straight and has no regrets.

From 'I Do' to 'I Don't'

What do you get when you cross a divorcee and a former divorce lawyer?

For any woman on the verge of divorce, the answer is: "Your new best friend." In her do-it-yourself divorce handbook, He Had It Coming, divorcee, defense attorney and CNN legal commentator Stacy Schneider explains how to outmaneuver your husband both in and out of divorce court, how to negotiate a cease-fire, and how to win a big bucks alimony check.

Using examples from her own divorce, Stacy reveals inside tips on offensive and defensive planning that can be implemented even before the divorce papers are filed. This unique guide teaches women to strategize like high-priced attorneys and helps them reach successful settlements, so they can navigate their way from a rocky marriage to a seamless divorce and pay the rent instead of the lawyer.

Legacy of Pulitzer Prize Winning Photo

On February 23, 1945 Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's camera captured five Marines and a Navy Corpsman raising the Stars-and-Stripes on Mt. Suribachi. This photograph would eventually mean much more than just a brief image from a faraway island - it would come to symbolize the valor and eventual victory of the Americans who served, and the nation's determination to win World War II.

In Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue author Hal Buell captures the full story of the ten days Rosenthal spent on the black volcanic sands of Iwo Jima, the heroism that inspired his Pulitzer-Prize winning photograph and the legacy it has held in modern popular culture. The book also includes a DVD of both flag raisings on Iwo Jima.

Legato Speaks a Universal Tongue

Internationally recognized expert in gender-specific medicine Dr. Marianne Legato is making her mark across the globe with her bestselling book Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget, which has now been translated into 26 different languages.

A Thief In The Night

Dr. Keith Black began performing heart transplants on dogs at Case Western Reserve at the age of sixteen. At seventeen he had published his first scientific paper in the Ohio Journal of Science and won the Westinghouse Science award for his landmark study, which showed why many patients suffer memory impairment following open-heart surgery. After graduating from medical school at the ripe age of twenty-three, he went on to discover leukotrienes as a source of brain swelling after stroke, which led to his opening of the blood-brain barrier to chemotherapy; to perform the first outpatient brain surgery, and to develop the first brain cancer vaccine in 1995.

Now, the world's preeminent neurosurgeon tells his inspiring story. A Thief In The Night, as he describes himself sneaking in under the cloak of anesthesia to remove the most difficult brain tumors, traces his struggle to emerge amidst the heated civil rights movement to single handedly change the future of medicine through pioneering the uncharted territory of human consciousness through the brain.