News Corp.'s HarperCollins Acquires Film Books Publisher Newmarket Press (Exclusive)

HarperCollins Publishers, a division of News Corp., has acquired the rights to the majority of titles published by Newmarket Press, the respected independent publisher of film-related books, including its Shooting Script series and illustrated movie tie-in books. our editor recommendsSammy Hagar: 4 Discoveries From his Uncensored Autobiography Esther Margolis, the founder and publisher of Newmarket Press, is joining It Books, HarperCollins' entertainment-focused division. She is the executive editor in charge of the newly established Newmarket Press for It Books imprint. The acquisition punctuates the rapid rise of 2-year-old It Books in the world of pop culture and entertainment publishing and signals HarperCollins' continued commitment to expand its entertainment offerings. Cal Morgan, senior vp and publisher of It Books, praised the acquisition. "For years, Newmarket Press has been the industry's leading publisher of film-related books," he said. "Its list of screenplays, making-of books, tie-ins, and other titles on cinema is second to none." He called Margolis a "highly respected veteran of both the publishing and the film industries," and said her experience would be "an invaluable asset" for It Books. For her part, Margolis said joining HarperCollins would allow Newmarket to flourish. "The resources of HarperCollins and the It Books team will allow the Newmarket backlist to flourish in all channels and formats while enabling me to add to the list going forward," she said. In the three decades since Margolis founded Newmarket in 1981, it has published more than 200 books in the areas of film, theater and performing arts, including official tie-in books for such films asMilk,The Matrix,Moulin Rouge,Chicago,Sense and Sensibility andSaving Private Ryan. It also published the Newmarket Shooting ScriptSeries, including screenplays forThe King's Speech,The Hurt Locker, Slumdog Millionaire,Juno,Sideways,Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindandAmerican Beauty. Newmarket Press' general nonfiction back catalog will be issued under the William Morrow Trade Paperbacks imprint. It includes such bestsellers asWhat's Happening to My Body?by Lynda MadarasandYou've Earned It, Don't Lose Itby Suze Orman.It also published Gene Hackman's first novel (co-written with Daniel Lenihan),Wake of the Perdido. Launched in September 2009, It Books has established itself as a major player in pop culture and entertainment publishing. It turned Justin Halpern's twitter feed "Sh*t My Dad Says" into a No. 1 NY Timesbest seller and a CBS TV show. This year alone, It Books releasedRedby Sammy Hagar,Getting the Pretty Backby Molly Ringwald,Being Kendraby Kendra Wilkinson,All My Lifeby Susan Lucci andDear Caryby Dyan Cannon.It also just scored a National Book Award nomination forRadioactive: Marie and Pierre Curie: A Story of Love and Fallout,by Lauren Redniss -- the first graphic novel ever to get a fiction nomination. Margolis brings a wealth of valuable experience to It Books. She originated Bantam Books' publicity operation in the 1960's, later becoming Bantam's first division head for marketing, publicity and communications worldwide and worked closely with such authors as Jacqueline Susann, Maya Angelou, Louis L'Amour, Gail Sheehy and E.L. Doctorow.In 2008, she won the Poor Richard Award from the NY Center for Independent Publishing, given to a publisher who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of independent publishing. Related Topics M&A News Corp.