Gossip queen Liz Smith just ran the exclusive official confirmation of this one, but PW had heard about Ballantine's acquisition of the autobiography of martial-artist/movie star Jackie Chan while the negotiations were still in the works this past fall from the acquirer, senior v-p and editor-in-chief Judith Curr. Even though Chan is now represented by the William Morris agency, Curr had contacted Chan prior to his signing with that agency and worked out a book deal separately. Ballantine holds all world rights to the book, which should prove a special boon in Asia, where Chan is the biggest box-office draw and where he's released more than 10 albums as well. (Chan trained at the Peking Opera as a child). The book, which will have a simultaneous Ballantine audio, is scheduled for publication sometime in 1998, and will reveal how Chan's martial arts stunts are actually conceived and executed.