Simon & Schuster

Dr. Jill Biden, wife of vice president Joe Biden, landed a deal with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for her picture book, Don’t Forget Nana, God Bless Our Troops. Publication is set for June.

Biden’s proceeds from the book will be donated to charity organizations that support military families. Williams & Connolly LLP attorney Robert B. Barnett negotiated the deal with publisher Jon Anderson. Paula Wiseman will edit the book.

Here’s more from the release: “Inspired by the real life experiences of the Biden family, Don’t Forget Nana, God Bless Our Troops will be told through the eyes of Vice President Joe and Jill Biden’s granddaughter, Natalie Biden. The story is inspired by Natalie’s life at home when her father was deployed. Natalie’s father, Beau Biden, is a Major in the Delaware Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq for a year. Readers will follow Natalie’s experience as she learns to cope with missing her father and finds comfort in the kindness of members of her community, including teachers and neighbors, and the strength and pride that she and her mother and brother felt from being part of a military family.”

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Simon & Schuster imprint Atria Books has acquired the English language rights for Le Second Souffle (Second Wind) by Philippe Pozzo di Borgo.

In 2001, Pozzo di Borgo published his memoir in his native France. The book inspired the 2011 French film adaptation titled Intouchables (Untouchables); the movie has become a big hit in France with almost 14 million ticket sales. Above, we’ve embedded the film’s theatrical trailer.

Here’s more from the release: “In Second Wind, Philippe recounts his story of being left a quadriplegic after a paragliding accident, which transformed him in an instant from an aristocratic business and social leader into a helpless and tragic figure, an ‘untouchable’ in contemporary society. Eventually, he hired an unlikely caregiver—an unemployed, hot-headed, uninhibited Algerian immigrant who turned out to be just as lost and lonely as Philippe, and who was instrumental in helping him return to the world of the living.”

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Yesterday, Infernal Devices series author Cassandra Clare (pictured) kicked off her Clockwork Prince book tour at New York City’s Barnes & Noble Union Square.

The reading featured a surprise visit from Clockwork Prince audiobook narrator Ed Westwick (who plays Chuck Bass on the Gossip Girl TV series). Westwick (pictured) introduced Clare to the standing room only crowd. Clare read from her novel and answered questions.

Prompted by one fan’s question, Clare shared writing advice with the crowd at the reading.

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Ian Falconer has inked a deal with Simon & Schuster’s Atheneum Books for Young Readers imprint for the seventh installment in the Olivia series, Olivia and the Fairy Princess.

The picture book will be released in fall 2012. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing publisher Jon Anderson negotiated the deal with Levine Plotkin & Menin, LLP entertainment lawyer Conrad Rippy. The deal includes audio and all translation rights. Executive editor Namrata Tripathi will edit the manuscript.

Here’s more from the release: “Originally created as a gift for his niece Olivia, Falconer’s children’s book Olivia was first published in October 2000. An instant bestseller and children’s classic, it received the prestigious Caldecott Honor from the American Library Association and the Book Sense Children’s Illustrated Book of the Year award from the American Booksellers Association. More than six million of Falconer’s classic Olivia books have been sold in 22 territories, and Olivia also debuted in 2009 on Nickelodeon as a top-rated and critically acclaimed television series.”

In a new book video, Jersey Shore star Snooki visits Simon & Schuster and delivers tips from Confessions of a Guidette.

What do you think? As you can see, the video brings Jersey Shore-style makeup and mayhem to the major publishing house. The longer director’s cut version has been removed. Above, we’ve embedded the original.

As of this writing, the original version has earned 1,900 views on YouTube, counting 11 likes, 20 dislikes and a few comments. The comments were brief: “I’ve just witnessed the death of Western Civilization.” and “Oh dear God, she should not be allowed near a book.”

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Simon & Schuster has launched a book club site on Facebook called “Something to Read About.” The club will open on October 12th with a discussion on Jaycee Dugard‘s memoir, A Stolen Life. Readers can join in from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET.

Follow this link to browse the site. Here’s more: “This new page is designed to enhance readers experience with books and authors by featuring a variety of activities and events including a spotlight ‘Book-of-the-Month’ title, moderated conversations about favorite books, a listing of authors from all Simon & Schuster’s imprints who are available to call into reading groups, favorite book club selections, and daily updates. Fans of the page will also have direct access to videos, photos, a book-specific discussion forum, and excerpts as well as opportunities to interact with some authors and enter contests for free books.”

October’s book-of-the-month title will be Alice Hoffman‘s The Dovekeepers. Jodi Picoult‘s Sing You Home will follow in November and Kathleen Grissom‘s The Kitchen House in December. The site also has two book club samplers available with excerpts from popular authors including Phillipa Gregory, Chris Cleave and Samuel Park.  What do you think?

Becca Fitzpatrick has inked a deal with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers for the fourth and final title in the Hush, Hush Saga.

The not-yet-titled book will be released in fall 2012. Publisher Justin Chanda negotiated the deal with Inkwell Management literary agent Catherine Drayton. The deal includes North American, audio, and eBook rights.

The third book, Silence, comes out today. Fitzpatrick (pictured, via) had this statement in the release: “I am excited to be writing a fourth book in the Hush, Hush Saga. I can’t bring myself to say goodbye to these characters yet, and truly believe that their best adventures are yet to come.”

Philippa Gregory (pictured, via), author of The Other Boleyn Girl, will publish four young adult historical romance books with Simon & Schuster. The first title is slated for a summer 2012 release.

Children’s publishing director Ingrid Selberg (Simon & Schuster UK) and publisher Jon Anderson (Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing) negotiated the deal. Fiction editorial director Venetia Gosling will edit.

Anderson had this statement in the release: “Gregory is the gold standard for historical fiction. These books are an irresistible combination that will introduce a whole new group of readers to Philippa Gregory, and we look forward to working closely with Philippa to make this new venture a great success.”

Karen Kosztolnyik has been named executive editor at Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint. Kosztolnyik will report to editor-in-chief Jen Bergstrom and acquire commercial fiction, narrative nonfiction and memoir genres.

Kosztolnyik started her publishing career at John Wiley & Sons and then spent six years at Harlequin/Silhouette. She has served as an editor at Grand Central Publishing for nearly a decade.

Here’s more from the release: “During her distinguished tenure, Karen edited a wide variety of New York Times bestsellers, including the phenomenally successful Dewey by Vicki Myron & Bret Witter, which hit #1 and was on the list for 30 weeks, Silent Scream by Karen Rose, Lethally Blond by Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Kate White, and On the Line by Serena Williams.”

Tracey Guest, director of publicity at Simon & Schuster, has been promoted to vice president, director of publicity.

Guest has been with Simon & Schuster since 1998. In her time at the publisher, she has worked on a wide range of books by authors including: Hunter S. Thompson, Bob Woodward, Don Rickles, Mike Birbiglia, Bob Dylan, Paula Deen and Sylvia Nasar. Guest’s most recent publicity campaign was for Jaycee Dugard‘s bestseller, A Stolen Life. Guest began her career at Dutton/Plume in 1991.

In an email, Adam Rothberg, SVP, corporate communications at Simon & Schuster, wrote: “Through it all, Tracey has demonstrated excellent judgment, warmth, spirit, and an ability to make good things happen for our authors in all forms of media.”