Sandra Lee Enters Partnership with Hyperion & Disney Interactive Media Group

BURBANK: Lifestyle expert Sandra Lee has signed a multiplatform deal with Hyperion and Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) for a range of books and an original web series, respectively.

Hyperion signed Lee to a five-book deal. The first two books will be published in fall 2011, coinciding with Food Network’s fifth season of Sandra’s Money Saving Meals. The first book, Money-Saving Meals and Round-2 Recipes, will be released in October. Book two, Easy Entertaining at Home, follows in November. Books three and five will mark Lee’s foray into fiction, with the novels to be loosely based on fictional food characters. These are set for summer 2012 and summer 2013, respectively. The fourth book, a cookbook entitled 365 Easy Family Meals, is slated for a 2012 release. Ellen Archer, the president and publisher of Hyperion, acquired the world rights. “Sandra Lee is a creative force of nature,” said Archer. “We are thrilled to be publishing her cooking and entertainment books, and are looking forward to expanding her brand to fiction, adding a new genre to her impressive repertoire, and introducing her to a whole new audience.”

DIMG will be working with Lee on a 15-episode original online video series inspired by her upcoming books this fall. The videos, which will kick off for Halloween and run through the winter holidays, will run across the Disney Online network of sites for moms and families. The videos will be accompanied by photo galleries and step-by-step directions from Lee for celebrating nearly any occasion. “Sandra is an unstoppable talent,” commented Margie Gilmore, the VP of online originals for the Disney Interactive Media Group. “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with her on this new digital initiative.”

Lee said, “I am so pleased to join both Hyperion and DIMG. It’s a dream come true to align with such smart divisions adept at co-branding and collaboration. It’s an ideal match for me.”