With all the attention being paid to the comic book medium by movie
companies, TV producers and video game makers, it seems natural for more novels
about this industry. And sure enough, comic books, their fans, and their
creators form the backdrop of what could be one of the most anticipated novels
of 2006.

Scoop has learned that writer Barry Lyga (former Manager
– Marketing Communications for Diamond Comic Distributors) has received a
two-book deal from the prestigious Houghton-Mifflin Company, with the first book
to be Lyga’s The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. Lyga
described the book as “a YA coming-of-comic-book-geek-age
novel.”

Houghton-Mifflin acquired the book by outbidding several
other publishers and reportedly plans to give the book the full red carpet
treatment next fall.

“I’m grateful to the folks at Houghton-Mifflin
for giving me this opportunity,” said Lyga. “The title, obviously,
is a deliberate homage to Michael Chabon’s genius work — mine is a completely
different sort of coming-of-age, looking at a young comic book fan in a modern
context.”

Lyga is represented by Kathy Anderson of
Anderson/Grinberg Literary Management, and reports he’s already started on his
second book.

Congratulations, Barry!