New Move for Selina Walker

Selina Walker moves to Century and Arrow

16.06.11 | Charlotte Williams

Cornerstone has appointed Selina Walker, currently publishing director of Transworld's crime and thriller list, to the role of publisher for Century and Arrow.

Walker will begin her role in mid-July, following 11 years at Transworld where she worked with authors including Tess Gerritsen and Simon Sebag Montefiore.

At Century and Arrow, she steps into Kate Elton's shoes, who is moving to HarperCollins.

Cornerstone m.d. Susan Sandon said: "I've long admired Selina's publishing: she has a wonderful eye for talent and a track record which is second to none. I know that she will add lustre to Century and Arrow."

Walker added: “I’m thrilled to be given the hugely exciting opportunity to run imprints that span commercial fiction and non-fiction whilst being able to benefit from staying within The Random House Group.”

As a result of Walker's promotion, Sarah Adams, currently editorial director Transworld crime and thrillers, will become publishing director, with Cat Cobain promoted to publishing director of the women's fiction list.

Sarah Emsley, currently non-fiction editor working with popular culture titles, will be promoted to senior editorial director.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Texan author Rick Riordan is the author of the widely popular Percy Jackson & The Olympians series. Set in the contemporary United States, the series is based prominently on Greek Mythology. This well recieved series has won a number of awards and has also graced a number of the bestseller lists. The books are now set to move to the big screen. The first book in the series The Lightning Thief will be the first to be adapted and chronicles the adventures of Percy Jackson the son of a mortal woman and a Greek god, and his friends on a quest to stop a dangerous apocalyptic war between the gods and titans. The story contains a multitude of encounters with characters from Greek Mythology still alive in modern times

In June 2004, 20th Century Fox acquired feature film rights to the book. In April 2007, director Chris Columbus was hired to helm the project. The following November, screenwriter Joe Stillman was hired to adapt a screenplay based on the book. The official title for the film is "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief", and a release date is currently February 12, 2010. It is also confirmed that Logan Lerman has been cast as Percy Jackson and Brandon T. Jackson as Grover Underwood. Alexandra Daddario will be playing Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson adaption.

Rick Riordan is also the author of the Texas based Tres Navarre series. The first book in the series Big Red Tequila won the Anthony Award for best original paperback and the Shamus Award for best First P.I. novel in 1997.

Watchman Movie to proceed

The legal argument between 20th Century Fox and Warner Bros Movies appears to have been resolved and it looks as if the much awaited movie Watchman will be released as scheduled on 6 March 2009 in the USA

Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore it has not been without its problems with some fans feeling that it is an impossible graphic novel to film. The film charts the fortunes of a group of crime fighters struggling for justice in an alternative 1985, where Richard Nixon is still US president and the Cold War is raging.

Further information can be found here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7832719.stm