The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Orion signs two from Elmore Leonard

15.09.08 Catherine Neilan

Orion has acquired two new books from crime writer Elmore Leonard, both of which will appear next year. Weidenfeld & Nicolson will publish the hardback versions, while Phoenix will handle the subsequent paperbacks.

First to hit the shops will be Comfort to the Enemy, a three-part novel following Leonard's popular creation Carl Webster. This will come out as a hardback in April 2009, and will be succeeded by the November launch of Road Dogs, which will unite three characters from his earlier novels - low-key bank robber Jack Foley, Cuban conman Cundo Ray and beautiful psychic Dawn Navarro.

The deal was negotiated by Alan Samson, publisher for Weidenfeld & Nicolson and the Orion Publishing Group, with Charles Buchan and Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency, in association with Michael Siegel.

Samson said: "I'm delighted Elmore Leonard wants to continue working with us, he is an iconic figure, an award-winning and bestselling author and screenwriter, and his new work will appeal to all admirers of quality crimewriting."

Orion already publishes some of Leonard’s earlier work, including Rum Punch, which was turned into the film "Jackie Brown", The Hot Kid and The Complete Western Stories. Leonard has written more than 40 novels. He has also won a number of awards including The Crime Writer’s Association’s Cartier Diamond Dagger, and was awarded the title of Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America.

Rights deal Orion Catherine Neilan Elmore Leonard