Penguin Books launch the first Digi-Novel - Dark Origins by CSI creator Anthony E Zuiker

Released on: March 03, 2010, 3:38 am
Author: Penguin Books
Industry: Retail

Penguin Books has announced the launch of Anthony E Zuiker's 'Dark Origins' and the 'Digi-Novel' to the world of book publishing. The new Level 26 serial killer thriller books are complemented by a comprehensive online and digital component featuring exclusive cinematic content on a dedicated and fully interactive website.

The Level 26 site is an interactive extension of the book series, with the books and the site combining to form a 'Digi-Novel', a multi-platform experience that moves the reader from passages in the books to supporting videos and other content. Over the course of the book there are calls-to-action that direct the reader to the website to enter codes that unlock cyber-bridges.

These cinematic cyber-bridges take the experience to the next level, immersing the reader in the action and putting them inside the minds of a twisted torture-murderer and the man sent to take him down. The cyber-bridges have been developed by Anthony Zuiker and his CSI production team, and are designed to enrich the reader's experience, but are not essential to read and enjoy the story as one would traditional thriller books.

Anthony E Zuiker said: "I am extremely pleased to introduce you to my next project, 'Level 26: Dark Origins'. Level 26 takes the best features of books, film, and interactive digital technologies and rolls them all into a unique storytelling experience we're calling the world's first 'Digi-Novel'. I had a world-class cast and crew working alongside me on this project, and couldn't be more proud of the work they did, and the results we produced. I'll see you on the Dark side."

Stef Bierwerth, Editorial Director Michael Joseph said: "Dark Origins marks the great return of the classic, big serial killer thriller and at the same time takes the genre to a whole new level. Reading this novel will have the same effect on you as when you first watched Se7en or Silence of the Lambs on the big screen. It’s incredibly dark, twisted and will make you face your worst nightmares. Steve Dark and Sqweegel are set to become the Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter of the 21st century and we're very proud to publish Anthony Zuiker’s latest creation in the UK".

Notes to editors:

About Penguin Books
Penguin Books which was established in 1935 is one of the world's leading consumer publishing businesses and is part of Pearson plc, the international media company with market leading businesses in education, business information and consumer publishing. Penguin publishing comprises the Allen Lane, Fig Tree, Hamish Hamilton, Michael Joseph, Penguin, Penguin Classics, Puffin and Viking imprints.

Penguin has offices in 15 countries and runs over 50 reader and community websites, including spinebreakers.co.uk, the only online community for teenage book lovers, by teenage book lovers.

Penguin's Reading Groups website has been running since 2001 and supports tens of thousands of 'real life' book groups as well as facilitating virtual reading groups and online book discussions.

About Anthony E. Zuiker
Anthony E. Zuiker is the creator and executive producer of the most watched television show in the world, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, aired in more than 200 countries with an audience of 2 billion viewers. He produces all three editions of the CSI franchise: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY. Zuiker is a visionary business leader who speaks professionally about the future of entertainment and storytelling on multiple platforms. Zuiker's lifelong dream has been to write a crime novel. Zuiker lives with his family in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

Anthony E. Zuiker is available for interview.

PR Contact Details:
Katya Shipster
Publicity Manager
Penguin Books
80 Strand
London
WC2R 0RL
+44 207010 3273
www.penguin.co.uk