book deal for author who fabricated parts of earlier title

James Frey, the author who admitted making up portions of his best-selling memoir “A Million Little Pieces,” has signed a new book deal for his novel “Bright Shiny Morning,” with HarperCollins. The dollar figure was not disclosed.

Last year, Mr. Frey was sharply rebuked by Oprah Winfrey, who had selected “A Million Little Pieces” for her television book club, after the Smoking Gun Web site revealed that Mr. Frey had fabricated parts of his memoir, including an account of three months in jail, when he had spent only a few hours there.

Riverhead Books, which published Mr. Frey’s second memoir, “My Friend Leonard,” withdrew from a two-book deal that would have included “Bright Shiny Morning.” In addition, Random House, which published “A Million Little Pieces,” agreed to pay up to $2.35 million to readers who said they were defrauded by him.

In a news release yesterday, HarperCollins announced that Jonathan Burnham, a publisher, had negotiated the deal for “Bright Shiny Morning.” Minutes before the release went out, the news was reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Full story from the New York Times..............