Little, Brown Books For Young Readers "is pacting with the Gotham Group to develop original IP properties for film and TV," Deadline reported, adding that the partnership will launch next spring with paperback publication of the YA thriller Phantom Wheel by Tracy Deebs.
Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, founder and CEO of the Gotham Group, and Gotham's Eddie Gamarra, co-head of the literary department, will spearhead the effort from the entertainment industry side. The publishing program will be overseen by Kara Sargent, editor-in-chief of licensing and IP at Little, Brown. They will work together to conceive, develop, publish and produce content across a wide array of traditional and evolving entertainment media.
"Years ago we recognized that client Tony DiTerlizzi's The Spiderwick Chronicles concept was inherently cinematic as well as having the potential for an extraordinary book series, so we sold the movie first and then the books," said Goldsmith-Vein. "We are excited to work with the team at Little, Brown to similarly create IP across all platforms and to provide great content to the studios and networks in the traditional and digital spaces in both animation and live action."
Deadline noted that Little, Brown "has had great success with The Twilight Saga, How to Train Your Dragon, The 100, Beautiful Creatures, and The Duff."