Around the Block book leave over; 3 books to be released in exclusive deal

AROUND THE BLOCK

News with a Twist

Around the Block back from book leave

Three books in three weeks – coming to a bookstore near you soon?

 In an incredible burst of creative energy, this correspondent has written three books in the space of three weeks. This, despite a whirlwind trip to the Continent, including visits to Venice, Verona and Padua (the “Kiss Me Kate” portion of the journey), Milan, Bologna, Modena, Florence, and stops in both the Italian and French Rivieras.

In keeping with a well-known eclectic sensibility, the books are vastly different in genre and style.

The first, a highly personal history of Lucas Valley, the incredibly exciting corner of Marin County California, is entitled “Lucas Valley, It’s John, not George, Stupid,” which finally puts to rest the myth that, despite the location of Skywalker Ranch in the Valley, this little patch of paradise was not named after the reclusive Star Wars auteur.

Inspired by personal travels and E.M. Forster, the second book, is an historical novel. “A Room Without a View,” tells the story of the trials and tribulations of a group of British expats who summer each year in a Motel 6 in Florence, Alabama. Merchant Ivory productions, with Judd Apatow signed to direct, has already picked up movie rights for the book. Apatow, in a unique casting decision, has hinted that several Apatow regulars including Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mellissa McCarthy, Kristin Wiig and Leslie Mann would be cast as the British expats.

And finally, inspired by the incomparable rhetoric of the 2016 presidential election, “All the Presidents’ Women,” is a survey of presidential infidelities from George Washington to Bill Clinton. In a major coup, Donald J. Trump (with ghostwriter Tony Schwartz) has signed on to write the book’s forward, an excerpt of which follows:

“This book will be huuuge. Believe me, it’s about time someone wrote a book about this. This is big league and shows it’s not just me. Let me be honest. We all do it. I will tell you, this will be a bigly best seller, let me tell you.”

In a savvy move to maximize sales, Around the Block's literary agent, Slowly Lazar, great-nephew of the legendary agent Swifty Lazar, announced that the books will be released simultaneously in November in an unprecedented exclusive deal with Borders.