A federal appeals court today overturned a New York U.S. District Court ruling from 2006 that gave John Steinbeck’s son and granddaughter the rights to 10 of his books.

Reuters reports that the appeals court determined that Penguin Group should own the copyrights to Mr. Steinbeck’s early works, including The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and the Nobel- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author’s first published novel, Cup of Gold. As Reuters notes, “The case has been seen as having ramifications for heirs of other artists seeking to control future use of famous works.” In a statement, a lawyer for Mr. Steinbeck’s son and granddaughter said they would “continue to pursue damage claims in court.”

Penguin imprint Berkley Prime Crime has extended author Madelyn Alt’s book contract, signing her up to write two additional installments of her Bewitching Mystery series. Ms. Alt has written four of them to date; the third one, Hex Marks the Spot, came out earlier this month, and the next one, according to her editor Jessica Wade, will be in stores between nine and twelve months from now.

The series follows a Buffy-type character named Maggie O'Neill who hunts ghosts and solves paranormal mysteries in a small town in Indiana.

Peter Miller of the PMA Literary & Film Management, Inc. brokered the deal.

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