Academy Award-Winning Actress Octavia Spencer To Publish Debut Middle-Grade Series

Academy Award-winning actress Octavia Spencer has signed with Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, to publish Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective, a two-book middle-grade series. The first title in the series, Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit will be published in Fall 2013, and is the author's first novel.

Randi Rhodes isn't your average twelve-year-old. She's a Brooklyn vigilante with a Tae Kwon Do black belt. But circumstances take a turn for the worse when Randi's mother passes away and her father decides to move to the small and sleepy town of Deer Creek, Tennessee. Randi couldn't be more unhappy—until a mystery arises: the town's two-hundred-year-old time capsule, which is rumored to contain hidden treasure, inexplicably disappears. Randi must solve the case, as the town's fate hangs in the balance. An index at the end of the book provides fun activities and a website, for a truly interactive experience.

"I want to take young readers on a sleuthing adventure," says Octavia Spencer. "Growing up I was a huge fan of mysteries like Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown, and my biggest hope is that after meeting these young detectives, kids will experience the same sense of magic I felt when solving my first mystery."

"Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective, is a fun, sweet, and hilarious series that is meant to bring family and friends together to solve the mystery," says Zareen Jaffery, Executive Editor of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, who will edit the book. "Randi and her friends are characters kids can relate to and look up to. We are thrilled to launch Octavia Spencer's first middle-grade series here at Simon & Schuster."

The agreement was negotiated by Zareen Jaffery, Executive Editor of Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and Andy McNichol at WME.

ABOUT Octavia Spencer
A veteran character actress and one of Hollywood's most sought-after talents, Octavia Spencer has become a familiar fixture on both television and the silver screen. Her critically acclaimed performance as Minny in DreamWorks' feature film The Help won her the 2012 Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, and Broadcast Critics' Choice Award, among countless other honors. Octavia is a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and holds a BS in Liberal Arts from Auburn University. She currently resides in Los Angeles. Randi Rhodes, Ninja Detective: The Case of the Time-Capsule Bandit is her first novel.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER CHILDREN'S PUBLISHING
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, one of the leading children's book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para ninos, Little Simon®, Little Simon Inspirations™, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Jon Sciezka's Trucktown, Nickelodeon's® Dora the Explorer®, Wonderpets® and SpongeBob SquarePants®. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com