Estate pushes Nikki Finke’s posthumous memoir amid mystery over publisher and custodian
The estate of late columnist Nikki Finke is trying to sell her long-delayed Hollywood memoir, with little-known friend Connie Su handling the deal, prompting mixed reactions in the industry.
Nikki Finke’s estate has put her decades-old Hollywood memoir up for sale, appointing Connie Su—a longtime friend who only met Finke at a 2015 Wellesley alumna event—to find a publisher. The book, delayed after a legal clash with billionaire Jay Penske and a fallout with Simon & Scher, was once championed by literary agent Jonathan Karp before Finke withdrew it. Sources say the manuscript, now called “Hubris” and edited by former LA a writer at one outlet, contains stories about figures such as Ron Meyer, Michael Eisner, Brandon Tartikoff and Sue Mengers.
Reactions range from curiosity to distrust, with former associates questioning the motives behind reviving the project and who will shape its final narrative. Meanwhile, other Hollywood memoirs, like Ari Emanuel’s upcoming book, are also slated for release. The estate’s choice to use Su rather than a traditional literary agent has added to the intrigue.
Why it matters
It could reshape public perception of Hollywood’s power dynamics and revive a controversial insider’s account.
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