Turner Publishing Acquires New Book by New York Times Best-selling Authors Keith and Kent Zimmerman

Online, April 26, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Turner Publishing has acquired a new book by New York Times best-selling authors Keith and Kent Zimmerman, it was announced today by Turner President and Publisher Todd Bottorff. Turner acquired the rights from Steve Ross, Director of the Book Division at Abrams Artists Agency.

For almost eight years, Keith and Kent Zimmerman, twin brothers and co-authors of the current New York Times best seller Operation Family Secrets: How a Mobster's Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago's Murderous Crime Family (with Frank Calabrese, Jr. and Paul Pompian; Broadway/Random House), have been teaching Creative Writing to inmates at San Quentin State Prison in California. In the summer of 2010, the Zimmermans organized a "literary throwdown," inviting six acclaimed and published authors to compete with their students-street smart convicts generally classified as uneducated, borderline illiterate, and socially incorrigible. The Zimmermans' first throwdown, featured on NPR's "Weekend Edition," resulted in a win for the San Quentin inmates.

"We here at Turner are committed to great writing and firmly believe in the power of the written word to change people's lives. Keith, Kent and their students thoroughly embody this belief. This important book, with its cast of underestimated yet undeterred characters, shows us how writing can emancipate, enlighten, and empower," says Bottorff. "For my first acquisition at Turner to be such a significant book by two New York Times best-selling authors is especially thrilling," says Diane Gedymin, newly-appointed executive editor. "With the efforts of the committed Turner team, I'm certain that the Zimmermans' story will inspire and motivate a wide audience."

NOTE TO THE PRESS:

Kent and Keith Zimmerman have written 16 books together. Their recently published works include Alice Cooper: Golf Monster, with Rock legend Alice Cooper for Crown/Random House, and A Personal Stand, with Country music superstar Trace Adkins, published by Villard/Random House. The brothers also co-wrote the New York Times bestseller Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Ralph "Sonny" Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club (Harper Collins). A film version of Hell's Angel, starring Mickey Rourke and directed by Tony Scott, is currently in pre-production at Fox studios.