In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Life of Pi author Yann Martel gave his stamp of approval for Ang Lee‘s 3D film adaptation. He said that Lee’s film is “incredibly faithful to the book” not only in plot, but also in “the idea, the intent.”

Prior to shooting, Martel met with the director to give feedback on the screenplay. After that, the author took a very hands-off approach with film production.

He explained in the interview: “Early on, I made very clear that I was willing to do whatever they wanted me to do and that I was stepping back because I know my limits. I’m a novelist; it’s my business to write words and construct novels, not to make movies — as much as I love movies. I grew up watching movies.”

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As his new book hits shelves today, author Christopher Farnsworth has sold the rights to Blood Oath, a vampire novel crossed with the political thriller. Warp Films hopes to adapt the novel and its unfinished sequel.

The book trailer for the book is embedded above. The film company was founded by Lucas Foster, the producer of the Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and many other films.

Here’s more from The Hollywood Reporter: “Foster has picked up the rights for ‘Oath’ and its follow-up, ‘Black Site,’ which Farnworth is still writing, and will develop scripts for them simultaneously. Farnsworth will work with a screenwriter to help guide the look and feel of the scripts and receive an exec producer credit. Justin Manask, who reps Farnsworth via the Office of Literary Adaptation, also will be involved on the producing side.”

A number of book embargoes have been broken over the last few weeks, but Mackenzie Phillips‘s bombshell allegations about her incestous relationship with her father were not leaked to the press until the book’s release date yesterday.

On the Morning Media Menu today, FishbowlNY editor Amanda Ernst pondered this memoir that has appeared all over television and the Internet. To offset the sordid headlines, the show also explored Hallmark’s plans to create a website that “will bring only positive news to the masses who are tired of the mudslinging.”

Around the five minute mark, Ernst offered a theory about how the publisher kept the memoir secret: “Phillips is not that big of a star. The news is incredible, but she’s not that big of a celebrity. If it had been someone else like Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie, that would have a greater cachet, and it would have leaked faster.”

Angelina Jolie will lead a new Patricia Cornwell film franchise, playing the author’s hero, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Fox 2000 has bought the rights to 16 bestselling books starring the forensic detective.

According to Variety, the first film won’t necessarily focus on a particular book, the writers are not “rigidly locked” to the original plots. In that exclusive GalleyCat interview last year, the author discussed her problems with crime fiction.

Here’s more from the article: “Once Jolie sparked to the series, months of negotiations followed … because Cornwell was so protective of her literary property.The deal finally came together after Jolie and [producer Geyer Kosinski] met with the author and found common ground on the creative direction of the feature adaptation.” (Via Edward Champion)