Book News: Simon & Schuster Suing Rappers for Advance Returns
Michael Rogers -- Library Journal, 7/31/2008 5:53:00 AM
- Lil’ Kim paid $40K for novel; Foxy Brown received $75K for autobiog
- Neither manuscript delivered
- Downey postpones memoir, returns advance
Simon & Schuster is suing rappers Foxy Brown and Lil’ Kim to regain advances given to the two for books they failed to produce. According to the AP, the publisher said Brown was advanced $75,000 in 2005 to deliver the manuscript for an autobiography titled Broken Silence by February 2006; and Lil’ Kim received $40,000 in 2003 for a novel to be delivered in June of 2004. Neither manuscript reportedly was ever presented to the publisher. Shortly after signing their contracts, both rappers had scrapes with the law and were imprisoned. Kim served time in 2005 for lying to authorities regarding a shooting, and Brown was incarcerated in 2007 for probation violation stemming from earlier legal indiscretions.
Downey memoir postponed
Riding high from his success with Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has postponed plans to pen his memoir and returned his advance to HarperCollins. The book, which was to be a frank look at the actor’s turbulent life, was scheduled for release this year.
