Two books being written and third planned on Amstetten incest case

Author Bojan Pancevski.

Two American publishing houses have signed deals with journalists for unauthorised books about Josef Fritzl and his family in Amstetten, and a third by a British publisher is on the verge of being signed.

The first is being written by a crime reporter based in New York who until now has never been to Amstetten. The author, John Glatt, who does not speak German, has been signed up by St Martin's press to do a book. He usually writes about grisly murders carried out in the American midwest for the publishing house's true crime series.

The second book is being written by Bosnian freelance journalist Bojan Pancevski. Mr Pancevski will be researching the work - which will be written by Times journalist Stephanie Marsh. Their book is expected to come out in spring.

Marsh and Pancevski have collaborated on stories in Europe in the past and are said to be thrilled at their lucrative deal with American publisher Harper Collins.

The book deals come as frantic bidding is under way between every major news organisation to land the first interview with Elisabeth Fritzl, even though her lawyer has said they are not even considering a plan to talk to the media yet.

Just getting a photograph of frail Elisabeth with her surviving six children could be worth as much as 1mn pounds, which is attracting growing numbers of paparazzi photographers to the hospital.

Offers are being made through the family's lawyer, Dr Christoph Herbst, for TV and magazine deals. But doctors say it could be weeks before she is well enough to brave the cameras, if ever.

Natascha Kampusch, the Austrian girl held in a cellar for eight years and released in 2006, made a similar large amount in deals for interviews and photographs.

The third book that is reportedly being negotiated is by best selling author and journalist Allan Hall, who was one of those who wrote a book about Natascha Kampusch that was a best seller - and was translated into 20 languages around the world.

21.05.2008 10:18:20