At last, here’s the answer to the question “Who are you writing about now?”
It’s this wonderful fellow right here.
Here’s the way it was reported on Galleycat:
Jim Henson Biography Acquired By Ballantine
Biographer Brian Jay Jones has sold a biography of the late Jim Henson–the genius behind the The Muppet Show and Fraggle Rock. The project is currently untitled.
Jonathan Lyons of Lyons Literary negotiated the deal with senior editor Jill Schwartzman. Jones is the author of Washington Irving: An American Original, and is working with the blessing of Henson’s family.
Here’s more from the release: “The biography begins with Henson’s days as an early TV pioneer, innovative artist and businessman who created a whole new way to present puppetry in a popular art form for television and motion pictures. It will also cover Henson’s famous creations, such as The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock and his important contribution to the development and success of Sesame Street, and describe his groundbreaking artistic and technological work that continues to this day.”
To say I’m incredibly thrilled, delighted, honored, and humbled to be working on such a project would be a colossal understatement.
Brian Jay Jones 
Brian:
Congratulations!
Steve
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That’s great. Congratulations.
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Yay Brian! The news we’ve all been waiting for. Jim Henson was one of my favorite celebrities. This book should do well.
Are you going to interview Kermit? (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
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Excellent! Any idea when it might be done? Got a working title yet?
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Heard about the deal on Publishers Marketplace. Just wanted to say how happy I am you are honoring Jim Henson. I’ll be sure to read the book when it comes out.
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Steve, Travis & Stephen: Thank you, gentlemen. I’m thrilled beyond words about this. No Kermit just yet, but I did manage to track down Fleet Scribbler.
Scott: We’re shooting for a late 2012 pub date.
Erin: Thanks for the kind words! I’m happy to be honoring Jim, too.
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single biggest influence on my life, imagination, writing, theology – all of it. Truly, truly, congratulations.
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Oh WOW! Jim Henson is my all time hero. Love, love, love the guy. I cried my eyes out when I heard he’d passed away.
How great is this Brian, congratulations!
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Brian,
You’re going to write the kind of biography Henson deserved but never got!
Best,
Charles
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Oh my…
I came across a comment you left on Stephen Parrish’s blog and popped on over- and I’m in awe. I’ve been obsessed with the Muppets all my life*- Henson is one of my heroes but I will admit with embarrassment that I’ve never really known much about him personally.
I cannot WAIT to read this book.
What a wonderful project to work on, my wholehearted congratulations!
~bru
(*I even have a tag for certain posts on my blog called “I am a Muppet”…)
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P.S. I was at Disney’s Hollywood Studios a few weeks back (as I’m sure you know they have the Muppet 3D movie there- I about went broke in the gift shop- ugh) and in Sid Cahuenga’s where they have celebrity memorbilia, they had a framed check with Henson’s signature on it- made out of the Xerox Corporation.
Oh, I wanted to buy it but at about seven hundred it was a little out of my budget…was still so cool to see it.
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