| |
2/10/2004
Ray Romano to Publish Children's Book
Ray Romano to Publish Children's Book With Simon & Schuster
Picture Book, Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers,
To be Published Fall 2004
NEW YORK, Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, announced today plans to publish the first book for children written by Ray Romano, comedian and Emmy Award-winning star of the top-rated CBS television program, "Everybody Loves Raymond." Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean: Why I Love and Hate My Brothers, scheduled for publication in Fall 2004, is the funny and true story of why brothers can be gross, disgusting, and downright mean-but still love each other. Raymie, Dickie, and the Bean is based on Romano's experiences growing up with his two brothers, Richard, a retired New York police sergeant, and Robert, a New York City school teacher, who are writing the book with him. The book will be illustrated by children's book artist Glin Dibly.
The agreement was negotiated by Rick Richter, President & Publisher of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing; Byron Preiss of Byron Preiss Visual Publications, which is producing the book; Romano's personal manager Rory Rosegarten, his agent Mel Berger of the William Morris Agency, and his attorney Jon Moonves, who represented Mr. Romano.
"Everybody does love Ray Romano," said Rick Richter, "especially here at Simon & Schuster. The Romanos's book is a funny, loving, and real look at what it's like to be a big brother (and a little brother). Anyone with a sibling will love this book."
"When my brothers and I weren't fighting with each other, we had a lot of fun growing up," explained Ray Romano. "Now it's great as adults to collaborate with them on this book and fight with each other once again."
Ray Romano admits that he always knew he could make his friends laugh, but he never really gave standup comedy any serious thought until an open-mike night at a New York comedy club in l984. He did well, the bug bit hard, and Romano was smitten. After several odd jobs, including futon mattress delivery boy, he decided to pursue comedy full time.
Romano's regular appearances at comedy clubs throughout the country led to guest spots on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," then with Jay Leno, and finally on CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," where host David Letterman recognized his talent and offered him a development deal with his production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. From that association, "Everybody Loves Raymond" was born.
For his role in "Everybody Loves Raymond", Romano was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1999, 2000, 2001, and won an Emmy in 2002 as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. Romano also was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy at the 1999 Golden Globe Awards. In 2003, "Everybody Loves Raymond," for which Romano is an Executive Producer, was awarded the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.
Romano stars in the upcoming feature film "Welcome to Mooseport" with Gene Hackman. The film is set for a February 6, 2004 release from Twentieth Century Fox. He also stars in the ensemble film "Eulogy" with Famke Janssen, Kelly Preston and Zooey Deschannel which is due this Spring. He is the author of the book Everything and a Kite (Bantam, 1999), based on his standup comedy. Romano, who is originally from Forest Hills, New York, now lives with his wife and four children in Los Angeles.
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, one of the leading children's book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin Paperbacks, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Libros para ninos, Little Simon(R), Margaret K. McElderry Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight(R), and Spotlight Entertainment. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and best-selling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy(TM), Henry & Mudge(R), The Hardy Boys(R), Nancy Drew(R), The Spiderwick Chronicles, Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts(R), Nickelodeon's(R) Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants(R), and HIT Entertainment's Bob the Builder(TM). Simon Spotlight, an imprint wholly devoted to media tie-ins, has become one of the fastest growing imprints in the children's book industry. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, visit our website at http://www.SimonSaysKids.com.
Simon & Schuster, part of the entertainment operation of Viacom Inc., is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic and multi-media formats. Its divisions include the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster New Media, Simon & Schuster Online, Simon & Schuster U.K., and Simon & Schuster Australia. For more information, visit our website at http://www.simonsays.com
Byron Preiss Visual Publications, specializes in books for young readers. They produced Simon & Schuster's forthcoming If Roast Beef Could Fly (2004) by Tonight Show host Jay Leno and the current New York Times best-seller, Tell Me a Scary Story, but Not Too Scary by Carl Reiner (Little, Brown). They are located New York.
SOURCE Simon & Schuster
CO: Simon & Schuster
ST: New York
SU: CHI
Web site: http://www.simonsays.com
http://www.prnewswire.com
12/02/2003 12:33 EST
|
