Miramax Sues Allison Pearson For Undelivered Novel

Posted on August 14, 2008

Miramax is now suing Allison Pearson for failure to turn in her new novel, I Think I Love You, which is about a girl's infatuation with David Cassidy. Pearson is a columnist for the Daily Mail and received $700,000 advance, which Miramax wants back.

Miramax Film Corp filed its suit for breach of contract against Pearson on Friday in Manhattan Federal Court, according to Reuters, saying that although Pearson accepted $700,000 in August 2003 under a two-year contract, she has still not delivered the novel. Miramax also said that Pearson has ignored its requests for information about the book's whereabouts since 2006.

I Think I Love You, which Pearson's agent said she believed Pearson would still deliver "but I don't know what deadline she has set herself", is described by its UK publisher Chatto as being "about love in many forms, but first love in particular, how it shapes us and imprints us". Pearson signed a deal for the book with Chatto in 2003. A spokesperson for the publisher said he had "absolutely no information whatsoever" on when it might be published; Amazon lists publication dates between July 2006 and February 2009.

Not taking your editor's calls and refusing to say when you might turn in manuscript is a recipe for a nasty lawsuit. You'd think a journalist would be better about deadlines. Pearson's last book was I Don't Know How She Does It, which got her named Newcomer of the Year at the 2003 British Book Awards.


More from Writers Write


  • Costco Plans to Sell Books Only From September to December


  • Karlie Kloss to Relaunch Life Magazine at Bedford Media


  • NBF Expands National Book Awards Eligibility Criteria


  • Striking Writers and Actors March Together on Hollywood Streets


  • Vice Media Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy


  • New in Products: Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition