Titles Sold by DeFiore and Company

Gorman, Ed. Veteran mystery writer Gorman is working on two new novels in his Sam McCain series of historical mysteries for Carroll and Graf.    

Grader, Rob. Rob is a New York City actor and professional cheapskate, whose passion for finding things for free led him to write THE CHEAP BASTARD’S GUIDE TO NEW YORK—a resource guide for finding the most incredible things available in the city, completely for free—from rollerblading lessons to theater tickets to beauty treatments. (Globe Pequot Press, 2002).

Green, Norman. SHOOTING DOCTOR JACK, which “mixes elements of The Sopranos and Traffic, and comes up with the best of both”—Associated Press, was a #2 ‘Booksense 76’ independent bookseller favorite. His second novel THE ANGEL OF MONTAGUE STREET was published in 2003, his third, WAY PAST LEGAL, was published in Spring 2004, and his fourth, DEAD CAT BOUNCE, was published in 2006. (HarperCollins).

Grogan, John. MARLEY & ME is a page-turning memoir about life with a wildly neurotic Labrador retriever. From his earliest puppy days, Marley barreled through the Grogans’ home and life with utter abandon. Whether attempting to star in a feature film, comforting the Grogans following a devastating miscarriage, shutting down an entire beach, or guarding a 17-year-old neighbor in the aftermath of a brutal stabbing, Marley was a dog like no other. In the tradition of MY DOG SKIP, MARLEY & ME will have readers laughing out loud until its heartbreaking conclusion. Over 2.7 million copies are currently in print and rights have sold in more than 25 languages.  (William Morrow, 2005).  marleyandme.com

Grogan, John.  A VERY MARLEY CHRISTMAS.  A second picture book inspired by the author’s runaway bestseller to be released for the 2008 Holiday Season. (HarperCollins Children’s)

Gueraseva, Stacy.  Def Jam, Inc. tells the story of hip hop music through the lens of the Def Jam record label, which began in an NYU dorm room and has since become a multinational company.  Legendary hip hop figures like LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Rick Rubin, and Russell Simmons will share their memories of Def Jam’s early days and their views of its ongoing struggles.  (One World/Ballantine, 2005). 

Hallcox, Jarrett and Amy Welch. The National Forensic Academy is the only hands-on training facility for CSIs in the world. BODIES WE’VE BURIED: Inside the National Forensic Academy, the World's Top CSI Training School gives the inside scoop on the 10-week program and exactly how CSIs are trained in everything from arson and bombs to blood spatter analysis and forensic anthropology. The stories are often gruesome, but much truer to life than the high tech gloss seen on television. Dr. Bill Bass, forensic anthropologist and founder of the world-renowned Body Farm, will write the Foreword. (Berkley, 2006).  www.bodiesweveburied.com

Hallcox, Jarrett and Amy Welch.  CSI AMERICA: An Undercover Look at the Nation’s Hardest Working Crime Scene Units.  The authors of BODIES WE’VE BURIED and the administrators of the National Forensic Science Institute tag along with real CSI teams across the country for an in-depth look at the art and science of crime solving.  Sold to Berkeley for a Spring 2008 publication.

Halpern, Adena. Adena Halpern writes the popular monthly back-page essay for Marie Claire magazine titled ‘The Haute Life.’ TARGET UNDERWEAR AND A VERA WANG GOWN: Notes from a Single Girl's Closet is the story of a young woman's life, one outfit at a time, from her childhood spent in the dressing room at Lord and Taylor to her love affairs with a guy in a leather jacket and the Vera Wang gown that helped her get over him. (Gotham Books, 2006).

Halpern, Adena.  THE TEN BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE. Adena Halpern's first novel is a wacky and heartwarming mix of 'Clueless' and THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN. It's the story of a young Los Angeles based personal shopper who dies before her time (run over by a mini-cooper) and narrates the book from heaven... a place with walk-in closets, calorie free ice cream sundaes and straight, single, hunky next door neighbors. But she's going to have to earn her right to stay in this heaven... and that will entail finding ways to right some wrongs she left behind. Sold to Plume.  

Hays, Daniel. In 1995, Dan Hays and his father David wrote the enormous surprise New York Times bestseller MY OLD MAN AND THE SEA. ON WHALE ISLAND is a journal of an extraordinary year in which Dan, his new wife and her 11-year-old son leave civilization behind and move to a remote and uninhabited island off the coast of Nova Scotia, learning to become a family. (Algonquin, 2003).

Hilebronner, Alex; Doug Veith, Tom Greenwood. Alex Hilebronner is a well-known LA celebrity chef.  WIN HER WITH DINNER: Food, Booze, and Tunes for Cooking Up the Perfect Evening, a book she developed with writer Tom Greenwood and art director Doug Veith, will show young men the most sure-fire way to win a woman’s heart. Simple but elegant recipes, combined with step-by-step instructions for shopping, prep and presentation: including suggestions for wine, music, and atmosphere. The authors tell readers that all they will need to score is “a couple of pots and pans; a few basic ingredients; a working knowledge of the English language; a CD player; and a woman.”  (Rodale, 2003).  www.winherwithdinner.com

Jakiela, Lori. In MISS NEW YORK HAS EVERYTHING, Jakiela writes of small-town dreams and big-world realities. Growing up in Trafford, Pennsylvania—the hometown of 'The Loveboat’s' Lauren Tewes, and one of the prime casting calls for 'Dawn of the Dead' zombies—Jakiela had dreams of becoming famous and making it big in the big city. She ran off to New York, joined the airlines and learned rather quickly that there are no five-day Paris layovers. After six crazy years filled with in-flight antics and stopover romances, things come full circle when her father is diagnosed with terminal cancer and she returns to Trafford. Jakiela has a wholly original voice that is as acerbic as it is heartfelt in describing the road we must all take to find our way back home. (Warner Books, 2005).  www.lorijakiela.com

Jeary, Tony and Dower, Kim. Tony Jeary is a very successful management and speaking coach, known in the business world as ‘Mr. Presentation.’  He is the author of the self-published INSPIRE ANY AUDIENCE, which has sold over 65,000 copies. Kim Dower is a Los Angeles based publicist, whose media business “Kim From L.A.” has handled publicity and West Coast promotion for the country’s most successful authors and publishers. Their new book, LIFE IS A SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS, takes their considerable combined skills in helping people to effectively present themselves and their messages—and puts it into a practical and inspirational book that anyone can use to become more persuasive and successful in life.  (Fireside, 2003).  www.tonyjeary.com

Jones, Stephen Graham.  Stephen Graham Jones is Blackfeet.  His novel, THE FAST RED ROAD--A PLAINSONG, was published by Fiction Collective Two and won the 2001 Independent Publisher Book Award for Multicultural Fiction. He was awarded a 2002 NEA grant based on the manuscript for his novel The Bird is Gone (FC2, 2003).  Rugged Land published his thriller, All the Beautiful Sinners, in April 2003, and University of Nebraska Press publishED his short story collection BLEED INTO ME: STORIES in September 2005 as a part of their Native Storiers Series. His latest project, DEMON THEORY, is a visceral and experimental novel that follows a  group of friends as they find themselves confronted by a series of deadly supernatural events that originate from a family history of murder and insanity revealed across three cinematic chapters. (MacAdam/Cage, 2006).  www.stephengrahamjones.net

Keane, Christopher.  Keane is a successful screenwriter, teacher, and author of HOW TO WRITE A SELLING SCREENPLAY (Broadway, 1998) and several other works of fiction and non-fiction. His book, HOT PROPERTY, is a look at screenwriting in the new independent-driven marketplace—including practical writing instruction and the real-world experiences of his former students in Hollywood. (Berkley, 2004).  www.keanewords.com

Kimes, Martha. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Columbia University Law School, Martha Kimes is a lawyer by day and a blogger at www.TheRandomMuse.com by night. She is also one of the Snark Sisters at www.Snarkywood.com. Her first book, IVY BRIEFS, relates her hilarious adventures as a Midwestern girl struggling to survive at Columbia Law School—like a real-life (smarter) Legally Blonde meets a witty and fun One L.  (Atria, 2007). 

Krugman, Michael. Michael Krugman is the founder of the “Sounder Sleep” System—a holistic system of self-help for insomnia sufferers, that has helped tens of thousands of people nationwide lull themselves back to sleep. He has been featured in Fortune magazine, and his program is being taught by physical therapists, nurses, and health care professionals around the country. His revolutionary, gentle, natural techniques—presented in this simple, practical book THE INSOMNIA SOLUTION: The Natural, Drug-Free Way to a Good Night's Sleep, will improve the lives of 172 million insomnia sufferers in this country. (Warner, 2005).  www.soundersleep.com

Kuebelbeck, Amy. Amy is an award-winning reporter and editor for the Associated Press. Amy was pregnant with her third child when she was given the devastating news that her unborn child had a malformed heart. WAITING WITH GABRIEL tells the story of a family who decides that the medical options are too wrenchingly aggressive, and that while no one could give their baby boy a good heart—they could give him a good life, albeit a short one. A profoundly moving story that will spark debate, be a supportive resource for families who face fatal illness, and be a major voice in the philosophy of ‘dying well’.  (Loyola Press, 2003).

Kusel, Lisa. Lisa's first work of fiction is a collection of interrelated short stories titled OTHER FISH IN THE SEA was published by Hyperion in August 2003. The stories vary in point of view, tone and main character—each helping to paint a full picture of one young woman, Elly, a charming contemporary drifter whose search for love and community is both universal and powerfully unique. HAT TRICK, published by Hyperion in 2005, centers on estranged high school best friends Mona and Hannah and the complicated love triangle they had with Peter, a man ten years older. Now in their thirties, Mona is a Hollywood movie producer and Hannah imports African goods for her store on the Northern California coast. In a twist of fate, the two women and Peter cross paths again on the exotic island of Zanzibar .

Lancaster, Jen. In BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK: Confessions of a Condescending, Egomaniacal, Self-Centered Smartass, Or Why You Should Never Carry a Prada Bag to the Unemployment Office, Jen Lancaster explores what it’s like to go from having a household income of almost a quarter of a million dollars to being evicted from a slum in less than two years.  In the heady days of dot-com fortunes, Lancaster lived the high life to a fault—she had the perfect man, professional success, designer clothing specially selected by personal shoppers, standing reservations at the most premium tables in the most fashionable restaurants, and a luxurious penthouse loft in the Chicago’s trendiest neighborhood—but after the bubble burst she found herself unemployed and unemployable.  BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK is a modern Greek tragedy—it follows the downward trajectory of someone who defines herself by the trappings of success.  Over 100,000 copies in print. (NAL, 2006).  http://www.jennsylvania.com/

Lancaster, Jen.  BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG ASS: A Self-Indulgent, Surly Ex-Sorority Girl’s Guide to Why It Often Sucks in the City, or Who Are These Idiots and Why Do They All Live Next Door to Me? From the rollicking bestselling author of BITTER IS THE NEW BLACK comes a brand-new collection of essays that shine a bright light on the big city to reveal the escapades of the outrageously unglamorous. (NAL, 2007)

Lancaster, Jen.  PRETTY FAT: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover If Life Makes Her Ass Look Big; Or, Why Pie Is Not the Answer. The story of the heretofore-unabashedly-plus-sized Jen's quest to lose fifty pounds in six months by any means possible – fad diets, diet centers, and if worse comes to worse, exercising and watching what she eats.  Sold to NAL for a May 2008 publication.

LaRoche, Loretta. Loretta LaRoche’s heartwarming and hilarious insights into ways to use humor to defeat stress have made her a favorite with viewers of her five PBS specials, and on the lecture circuit, where she performs an average of 100 talks per year. LIFE IS NOT A ‘STRESS’ REHEARSAL: Bringing Yesterday’s Sane Lifestyle into Today’s Insane World (Broadway,  2001) follows the success of her debut book Relax, You May Only Have a Few Minutes Left (Villard, 1998). Her new PBS show for Spring 2003, LIFE IS SHORT; WEAR YOUR PARTY PANTS is being produced, with a tie-in home video, audio and small format book, by Hay House. www.lorettalaroche.com    

Laskoff, Michael. Michael Laskoff is a surfer of the new economy—having ridden the waves to the top of several high profile startups, and occasionally wiped out. But every time he’s lost a job, he’s moved on to another that pays him more money, gives him more autonomy, and is more fun. His book LANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF YOUR ASS: Deal With It, Move On, Do Better-- A Handbook for the Recently Fired is an edgy, hilarious and ultimately indispensable guide to surviving and profiting in today’s job market.  (Three Rivers Press, 2003). www.askyourass.com

Lerner, Jimmy. Jimmy Lerner served a 2-12 year sentence in the Nevada State Prison for a charge that was reduced from Murder One. His extraordinary book, YOU GOT NOTHING COMING: Notes From A Prison Fish, is based on his bizarre and surreal experience of being a 'nice Jewish boy' with a middle management corporate job, a wife and two daughters, who wakes up one morning, naked, in an 8x6 foot concrete cell that he shares with a six-foot-six 350 pound skinhead with a swastika tattooed on his neck. It is a compulsively readable and compelling look at the terrors and absurdities of life as an 'unwilling guest' of the prison system. (Broadway, 2002).

Lessing, Stephanie. Chloe Rose’s childhood dream was to work for a fashion magazine, and at twenty-eight, that dream is about to come true in the form of a job as assistant to the assistant to…someone at Issues.  Little does she know, though, that she’s about to be saddled with the boss from hell and a job in the promotions department.  But with the help of her diminutive but fiercely protective older sister, a handful of sincere co-workers, and her killer sense of style, she’ll climb to the top of the masthead with charm and not a small amount of dumb luck.  Stephanie Lessing has been in and around magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, Self, and Vanity Fair.  SHE'S GOT ISSUES, her first novel, is a loving and hilarious parody of books like The Devil Wears Prada and The Nanny Diaries that reminds us it’s sometimes much easier to find a man than to navigate a world full of women.  (Avon, 2005).  MISS UNDERSTANDING is the laugh-out-loud sequel to SHE'S GOT ISSUES, which follows Chloe's sister Zoe's attempt to turn a fashion and beauty magazine into a voice for female empowerment. (Avon, 2006). www.stephanielessing.com

Lichtenberg, Ronna. Ronna is the author of Work Would Be Great If It Weren’t For The People (Hyperion) and It’s Not Business, It’s Personal (Hyperion). She is a frequent contributor to O—the Oprah Magazine and Redbook; and is  a regular guest on Today, CNN This Morning, and CBS’ The Early Show. She is a former Senior Vice President of Prudential Securities, and is currently President of Clear Peak Communications, a management consulting firm that works with top financial services companies.  Her new book about women and work is PITCH LIKE A GIRL: How a Woman Can be Herself and Still Succeed. (Rodale, 2005).  www.askronna.com

Manfredini, Lou. Lou Manfredini is also known as “Mr. Fix-it” on his regular spots on Television’s #1 morning program Today, on his Chicago based top-rated radio show, on his bi-monthly features in USA Weekend magazine, and on his upcoming syndicated television show from Tribune Entertainment.  His first book, MR. FIX-IT INTRODUCES YOU TO YOUR HOME was published in hardcover by Ballantine in 2003. In Spring 2004, his series of four trade paperbacks: HOUSE SMARTS, KITCHEN SMARTS, BATH SMARTS and ROOM SMARTS were published simultaneously in 2004 with major promotional tie-ins with USA Weekend and Ace Hardware.  www.hammerandnail.com

McMillan, Robin. Author Robin McMillan is the Editor-in-Chief of Golf Magazine’s Custom Publishing Division, and a former Executive Editor of the magazine. His new book is an oral history of the Ryder’s Cup, Us Against Them, featuring the words of those who saw it first hand, including master golfers such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw and dozens of others. (HarperCollins, 2004).

Meiliken, Jeffrey. Meiliken teaches a weekly seminar at New York’s Kabbalah Center (and occasionally other Kabbalah Centers around the world) on an ancient prayer that predates the bible and, according to believers, channels cosmic energy and grants miracles. THE GENESIS PRAYER tells stories of dozens of such miracles, and tells readers how to channel the power of the prayer into their own lives. (St. Martin's Press, 2005). 

Meredith, Joy.  As someone who has had many people close to her die, 36-year-old Joy Meredith has learned to find courage and humor in tough situations. MY LAST WISHES... is the first book to combine the introspective journaling aspects of The Book of Myself and All About Me with the more practical books on preparing for death, but without the depressing tone.  Instead, readers will find chapters on the medical decisions to be made (To be plugged in or not plugged in?), arrangements for the service (What do you want to wear to the final party?), practical considerations (Who gets the lime green vase?), and the kinds of parting thoughts to leave behind (Finally you get to have the last word!). In light of the controversy surrounding the Terri Schiavo case, people realize how important it is to let loved ones know their true wishes. This book will help millions of people do that with a little levity and a lot of warmth. (Collins, 2007)