Julian Lennon to Launch TOUCH THE EARTH with Sky Pony Press

Julian Lennon to Touch The Earth

with Sky Pony Press
Musician and environmentalist launches series
of Children's books

NEW YORK, NY (June 1, 2016 )Julian Lennon, in partnership with bestselling author Bart Davis, has entered into a three-book deal to publish bedtime storybooks with independent publisher Sky Pony Press, a division of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.

The series kicks off withTouch The Earth, inspired by Lennon's documentary film whaledreamers, which premiered at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and won eight international film festival awards. Sky Pony plans to release the book, written for three to six year olds, on Earth Day in April 2017, with subsequent books in the series to be published in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

Lennon and Davis will collaborate with a top children's book illustrator, still to be chosen. Sky Pony Editorial Director Bethany Buck is overseeing the series for Skyhorse. The writers were repped by Robert Gottlieb and Alyssa Eisner Henkin of Trident Media Group. Skyhorse Group Editorial Director Mark Gompertz brought the books to Sky Pony.

In the vein of international bestseller Press Here, Touch The Earth features an interactive concept. One part story, one part journey, and one part pledge to make the world a better, cleaner place, Touch The Earth will inspire readers and their grownups to discover new features each time they read the book. There are many unique elements that stand out including a compass throughout the story teaching readers North, South, East, and West. Readers will feel like they are flying across the globe as they greet their final challenge to make a once arid landscape verdant again.

"Maybe it's because of the way that I was brought up in a certain way, such a mishmash of being a child, with the divorce and dad moving away when I was younger that for me this is all about trying to make sure that doesn't happen with other people" said Lennon. "It's about trying to bring kids and parents together in a positive light. There weren't too many bedtime stories read, sadly, in my childhood. But that's where I'm hoping to make up for this, for others. I am most enthusiastic about working with Skyhorse and appreciate the sensitive energy and insight given toTouch The Earth."

Added Davis, "It has been a joy collaborating with such a gifted artist as Julian on a book that empowers kids to take on some of our greatest challenges. The book also gives them a wonderful experience as they 'fly' around the world in the WhiteFeatherFlier solving problems. We are delighted to partner with the vision and enthusiasm of Skyhorse to bring our books to children and parents everywhere."

Gompertz said, "It is not only Julian Lennon's artistry that I admire but his environmental and humanitarian efforts around the world that have filled me with awe." He added, "When Bart Davis, who I've published in the past, told me about this series of books, there was never a doubt in my mind that Sky Pony would be the perfect home for them."

"Julian Lennon's talents in the fields of music and photography are legendary," said Trident Media Group Chairman Robert Gottlieb. "We couldn't be more thrilled to help extend his brand into books."

Added Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Trident Media Group's vice president. "It is a true privilege to bring to the market a book rooted so deeply in Julian Lennon's passion for storytelling and his commitment to environmental conservancy."

Julian Lennon's sensitive and poetic vision of life courses through his exquisite photography, philanthropic pursuits, and his acclaimed music. In 2007, Julian founded the global environmental and humanitarian organization The White Feather Foundation. He produced the compelling documentarywhaledreamersthat was shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival and earned 8 International Film Festival Awards. He has emerged a renowned photographer and garnered many outstanding reviews for his iconic images. OnJune 4 th2013 he returned with his first albumin 15 years, the stunningEverything Changes(Music From Another Room), a masterwork of powerfully vulnerable and sophisticatedly accessible adult pop. He continues to write, produce music and independent documentary feature films, and is currently exhibiting his photography in galleries and art fairs around the globe. For more information please visitwww.julianlennon.com.

Davis is the bestselling author of fifteen books, including ten novels and five nonfiction books. His novels include the five-book Peter MacKenzie series including the bestselling Full Fathom Five and A Conspiracy of Eagles. His tenth novel, The Midnight Partner, was a Literary Guild Alternate Selection and a Doubleday Book Club selection. Davis most recently coauthored Black and WhiteThe Way I See It, the autobiography of Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena Williams. For more information, please visit www.bartdavis.net.

TRIDENT MEDIA GROUP

Formed in 2000, Trident Media Group (TMG) is a prominent literary agency located in New York. TMG represents more than one thousand bestselling and emerging authors in a range of genres of fiction and nonfiction, many of whom have appeared on the New York Times bestseller lists and have won major awards and prizes, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the PEN Faulkner Award, the PEN Hemingway Award, the Booker Prize, and the Los Angeles Times Book Award, among others. TMG is one of the world's leading, largest, and most diversified literary agencies.

SKYHORSE PUBLISHING

With a backlist of more than 6,000 titles, Skyhorse is one of the fastest-growing independent book publishers in the United States. It was launched in 2006 by Tony Lyons, former president and publisher of the Lyons Press. It has had forty titles on the New York Times bestseller list over the course of its ten-year history.

Lyons is dedicated to publishing books that make people's lives better, whether that means teaching them a hobby, bringing them a unique and important story, or encouraging them to fight against abuses of power.

Media Contact: Charlie Lyons, Skyhorse Publishing, 212-643-6816 x 286, clyons@skyhorsepublishing.com

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SOURCE Skyhorse Publishing

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