Random House and Focus Features Acquire Rights to New Koontz Novel

Author Dean Koontz has sold his forthcoming novel, "The Husband" to Focus Features and Random House Films, the two comanies heads, James Schamus and Peter Gethers announced today. The story, which will be published on May 30th in hardcover in the U.S. and Canada, is the story of an ordinary working man whose love for his wife is put to a harrowing series of tests over a 60-hour period, beginning when his peaceful workday is shattered by a phone call from a stranger. "The Husband" is the third Random House, Inc. title acquired by the joint venture. In the multi-year deal announced last November between the publisher and Focus Features, the companies will develop movies together and co-finance and co-produce a substantial slate of feature films for theatrical release, all based on books published by Random House imprints in North America and internationally. [Brian Brooks]