Rob Weisbach

This morning we noted that Rob Weisbach, who's been off the grid since leaving Weinstein Books in April, had brokered a book deal for an intruiging memoirist named Norman Ollestad. Mr. Weisbach had never worked as an agent before, and the question on everybody's lips--O.K., the question that would have been on everybody's lips if all of publishing wasn't at the beach today--was whether this deal was Mr. Weisbach's way of telling the world that he was starting a second career as a literary agent.

The answer is no. In a phone interview this afternoon, Mr. Weisbach told Media Mob that the Ollestad book was a one-off project and that he doesn't expect to be selling any more books.  read more »

Ecco announced this morning that they've acquired a major memoir called Crazy for the Storm, which tells the story of a boy from Southern California named Norman Ollestad who at 11 years old survived a plane crash that killed his father.

Interestingly, the agent who sold the book to Ecco is Rob Weisbach, former publisher of Weinstein Books.

About four months have passed since Mr. Weisbach announced he was leaving Weinstein, and until now, no one really knew what he was up to. At the time, he said he was not quite ready to announce his next move, but confirmed that it would "definitely" be somehow related to the business of literature.  read more »

This week's print edition of The Observer is packed with media goodness. Here's a rundown:

John Koblin profiles Portfolio's Jacob Lewis, the man who made the trains run on time. Plus, a look at Pulitzer day celebrations at The New York Times and The Washington Post.

Felix Gillette checks in on Politico TV, coming soon to a Sunday morning near you.

Leon Neyfakh notes Rob Weisbach's departure from Harvey Weinstein's publishing arm and notes, "there was a perception that Mr. Weisbach, who enjoyed a reputation as a brilliant, if slightly showy, editor, was being wasted at Weinstein Books." Plus, meet Thomas Kohnstamm, the delinquent travel guide writer.

When Rob Weisbach announced last week that he was resigning as president of Weinstein Books, many in the publishing world said they wouldn’t be surprised if the imprint he created three years ago from the ashes of Miramax Books would be allowed to die as quietly as it lived.

Mr. Weisbach’s famously mercurial filmmaker boss, Harvey Weinstein, seemed to have lost interest in the book business after he and his brother left their home at the Disney Company, and it was widely known that Mr. Weisbach had been looking for a new job for months.

“There’s only so much Harvey to go around,” said one insider source, “and his attentions were focused on the core businesses of the Weinstein Company: film and television and home entertainment … which leaves very little Harvey for books. Ultimately, Rob was there with virtually nothing to do. And eventually even high-paying jobs where you have nothing to do become onerous.”  read more »

Rob Weisbach, president and C.E.O. of Weinstein Books, is leaving the company "to pursue other publishing opportunities," reports Michael Cader at industry resource Web site Publisher's Marketplace. Harvey and Bob Weinstein brought Mr. Weisbach in as head of Miramax Books back in 2005, just as they were preparing to split from Disney and form their own company. When that new company was formed, Mr. Weisbach moved into the job he has held until today.

   read more »