(New York, NY, February 26, 2008)  Paula Deen, the bestselling author of eight books, has signed a multi-book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster.  The deal includes two new cookbooks, the first of which will be THE DEEN FAMILY COOKBOOK, tentatively scheduled for publication in Spring 2009.  The deal also includes a book on style tentatively titled, Paula Deen's Savannah Style, written with her creative director Brandon Branch, and tentatively scheduled for publication in Fall 2009.  

David Rosenthal, Executive Vice President and Publisher of the Simon & Schuster imprint and Sydny Miner, Vice President and Senior Editor, negotiated the deal with Janis Donnaud, who represented Ms. Deen in conjunction with Barry Weiner, Ms. Deen's personal representative. 

Paula Deen has also signed a deal with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers to publish a children's cookbook October 7, 2008.  PAULA DEEN'S MY FIRST COOKBOOK is a collection of recipes designed to encourage families to cook together in the kitchen written with Martha Nesbit. The book will include illustrations by Susan Mitchell.

Paula Deen says, "I can't tell y'all how pleased and excited I to be working with my friends at Simon & Schuster again. The care and creativity they bring to every one of my books makes working on each project special."

David Rosenthal says, "Paula is an American original. She's the most dynamic force in popular cookery today."

Simon & Schuster Children's Division's Senior Vice President and Publisher, Rubin Pfeffer, says, "Mix Paula Deen, kids, and cooking and you have the recipe for lots of fun in the kitchen. We're thrilled to publish Paula's first cookbook for children."

Simon & Schuster has been Paula Deen's publisher since the publication of The Lady & Sons Just Desserts in 2002.  Her most recent book Christmas With Paula Deen was published in October 2007 and spent six weeks on The New York Times' Advice, How-To, Miscellaneous bestseller list.  Her memoir, Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin',  written with Sherry Suib Cohen, was published in 2007 and spent eight weeks on The New York Times hardcover non-fiction bestseller list, reaching # 2.  Other bestselling cookbooks by Ms. Deen include The Lady and Sons Savannah Country Cookbook, The Lady and Sons Too, Paula Deen & Friends, and Paula Deen Celebrates. 

Paula Deen is the host of two shows on Food Network -- "Paula's Home Cooking," which debuted in 2002 and "Paula's Party," which premiered in 2006.  She is the owner of The Lady & Sons restaurant in Savannah, GA and co-owns Uncle Bubba's Oyster House on Wilmington Island, GA with her younger brother Earl "Bubba" Hiers.  Her magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen launched in 2005.

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