Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Signs Memoir by US Women’s National Soccer Team Captain, Carli Lloyd

NEW YORK – Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) announced today that it will publish the memoir of US women’s national soccer team captain, Carli Lloyd, who helped pave the way for a US victory in the World Cup final by scoring an unprecedented hat trick in the first sixteen minutes of the game in July 2015.

The memoir, scheduled for release in Fall 2016, will reflect on Carli’s soccer career —from almost quitting the game in 2003 to finding a trusted trainer who helped her focus on fitness, mental toughness,  and character to become one of the best players in the world.

“It was clear that Carli channeled something deep inside the day she made history in the World Cup final,” said Susan Canavan, Senior Executive Editor, HMH. “But the fact is she has been working toward this level of supreme athletic performance her entire life, through ups and downs, triumphs and disappointments, all the while with a steely determination.  Her story is an inspiration to all women and athletes who strive to achieve something greater -- and are willing to work for it.  We are delighted to bring that story to readers.”

“Winning the World Cup with my teammates was one of the most thrilling moments I could imagine,” added Lloyd. “Getting there was a long journey, sometimes rewarding, sometimes challenging, but worth every moment of hard work and sacrifice.  I’m super excited to have the opportunity to work with Susan and HMH to tell my story.  I think it will be a book that will inspire and motivate players, fans, coaches and anyone who wants to achieve their dreams.”

The North American rights were sold at auction by Jay Mandel at William Morris Endeavor to Susan Canavan at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. The memoir will be followed by a special edition for young readers.

About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Trade Publishing

For nearly two centuries, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Trade division has published some of the world’s most renowned novels, non-fiction, children’s books and reference works.  As part of one of the world’s leading learning companies, it is uniquely positioned to create educational and entertaining content for multiple channels and in various formats — from hardcovers and paperbacks to eBooks and mobile apps.  Its distinguished author list includes nine Nobel Prize winners, forty-seven Pulitzer Prize winners, thirteen National Book Award winners, and more than one hundred Caldecott, Newbery, Printz, and Sibert Medal and Honor recipients. HMH publishes such distinguished authors as Philip Roth, Temple Grandin, Tim O'Brien, and Umberto Eco, and a celebrated roster of children’s authors and illustrators including Lois Lowry, Chris Van Allsburg and David Wiesner.  HMH is also home to The Best American series®; The American Heritage® and Webster’s New World™ dictionaries; Betty Crocker®, Better Homes and Gardens®, How to Cook Everything®, The Gourmet Cookbook, and other leading culinary properties; the Peterson Field Guides®; CliffsNotes; books by J.R.R. Tolkien; and many iconic children’s books and characters including Curious George®, The Little Prince and The Polar Express.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release may contain certain statements that are not historical facts, including information regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies, the industry in which we operate and potential business decisions.  Those statements constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in state and local education funding and/or related programs, legislation and procurement processes; adverse or worsening economic trends or the continuation of current economic conditions; changes in consumer demand for, and acceptance of, our products; industry cycles and trends; conditions and/or changes in the publishing industry; and other factors discussed in our news releases, public statements and/or filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation, and do not expect, to publicly update or publicly revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.