Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump Inks 7-Figure Fiction Deal With Bantam Books (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Angelique Jackson Noted civil rights attorney Ben Crump has inked a seven-figure deal to author a series of crime novels for Bantam Books.

Under the deal, Bantam Books will publish the first two installments of a crime fiction series written by Crump, who has defended and won significant settlements for the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Henrietta Lacks, the residents of Flint, Michigan and several others.

The series centers on Beau Lee Cooper, a Black civil rights attorney who “tackles heart-wrenching cases of corruption and injustice while celebrating Black love, joy and resilience.” As a press release explains, the two novels are informed by Crump’s decades of courtroom experience and his personal revelations, written to “emphasize the power of blood ties, community bonds in the face of violence and offer hope for a better future.” “I feel it’s important to introduce a charismatic figure to the world who shows the realities of the legal landscape and the justice system through the eyes and experiences of the marginalized and the voiceless,” Crump said in a statement. “A person of color who allows readers to step into an expansive universe of characters they may never otherwise notice or understand and, in the process, hopefully be inspired to broaden their perspectives and even decide to play a part in moving society towards true justice for all.” North American publishing rights were sold by UTA and Artistry Collective’s Cameron S.