Liukin Near Book Deal, But Likely To Fall Short Of Phelps' Payday

Liukin Reportedly In  Talks For Book Deal

U.S. Gold Medal-winning gymnast Nastia Liukin reportedly is "talking to two publishers about a two-book deal," according to Keith Kelly of the N.Y. POST. Industry sources estimated that the deal could be worth a "mid-six figure payday for the package," which would be "less than the $1.6[M]" advance U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps received for a book detailing his eight Gold Medals at the Beijing Games. Liukin's deal "might even be below the size" of the multimillion-dollar deal U.S. swimmer Dara Torres signed before the Games. Liukin's agent, Premier Management Group's Evan Morgenstein, said that the first book under discussion is an "inspirational memoir" (N.Y. POST, 8/29). Meanwhile, CNBC.com's Darren Rovell reported Torres, who earned $7,500 per speaking engagement ahead of the Beijing Games, now is earning $30,000 per speech (CNBC.com, 8/27).