As publishers buzz around Jeremy Lin, he apparently continues to turn down book deals to focus on his playing. Nonetheless, at least five unauthorized e-book bios are already on the market. One publisher hoping to be the first with a print book is Zondervan, which is publishing Linspired: The Remarkable Rise of Jeremy Lin in both adult and children’s versions in April.
Last November, before the onset of Lin fever, Barbour published Playing with Purpose: Basketball: Inside the Lives and Faith of Top NBA Stars, a collection of short bios of six current players, including Lin (as well as a look back at Pete Maravich) by sports writer Mike Yorkey (Growing Up Colt).
According to Yorkey’s agent, Greg Johnson of WordServe Literary, “Barbour and I discussed expanding the material in Playing With Purpose to a mass market book and e-book.” Barbour decided against the project, but allowed Johnson to approach other publishers with the idea. “It quickly turned from mass market to trade paper as discussions began to happen,” said Johnson. “I had several publishers interested, but wound up with two enthusiastic bidders.” Johnson said that Zondervan’s offer to do a children’s book as well as an adult version won out. Barbour--which is reissuing Playing with Purpose with a new cover--has licensed the content to Zondervan, and Yorkey is being paid by Barbour under his existing contract. Zondervan is handling foreign rights and producing audio and e-books.
Johnson said the books will include content from the Barbour book expanded with interview material left on the cutting room floor. Added to that will be first-person quotes from other media, as well as interviews with tennis star Michael Chang; with Lin’s pastor, Stephen Chen of Chinese Church in Christ in Menlo Park, Calif.; and from the Knicks pr office. Pat Williams, senior v-p of the Orlando Magic, contacted Yorkey about contributing to the book, and interview material from him is being added to the manuscript.
