With the stealth of a covert military raid, Thinkfactory Media has slipped past the competition to secure the #2 nonfiction bestseller ten weeks and counting, THOMAS JEFFERSON AND THE TRIPOLI PIRATES: The Forgotten War That Changed American History, and has set sail toward transforming this incredible-yet-true story into an epic television event. The company behind the five-time Emmy-winning historical mini-series "Hatfields & McCoys" optioned the popular book by FOX NEWS channel host Brian Kilmeade and bestselling author Don Yaeger, with Thinkfactory CEO Leslie Greif to serve as executive producer.
In the wake of the American Revolution, this is the little-known story of our first war as a young nation, led by its iconic second president. Thomas Jefferson faced a number of crises when he took office in 1801, prominent among them: pirates from North Africa's Barbary coast who regularly attacked U.S. merchant ships, holding American sailors for ransom. In response, Congress built the U.S. Navy and the Marine Corps. After failed diplomacy with these four Muslim nations - Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers, and Morocco - President Jefferson boldly decided to stand up to intimidation, sending the Navy and Marines across the Atlantic to wage a coordinated land-and-sea attack. The American heroes of this war include naval officers Edward Preble and Stephen Decatur, as well as General William Eaton, who crossed 500 miles of African desert to capture a city and for the first time raise the American flag over foreign soil. The First Barbary War (1801-05) would subsequently inspire the Marine Corps hymn, "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, we fight our country's battles in the air, on land and sea."
"Brian and Don's book is a riveting page-turner - a hugely significant yet little-known story in American history - that makes it ideal for an epic television event," said Leslie Greif, CEO & Founder, Thinkfactory Media. "Their book illuminates the roots of America's challenging relationship with the Muslim world that is still playing out in today's war on terror. Its adaptation will not only be compelling, but relevant for modern audiences."
"From the first day we began researching Thomas Jefferson's War with Tripoli I just new it would make a great movie or miniseries and now it's happening" added co-author Brian Kilmeade. "I am truly honored that a company as esteemed and successful as Thinkfactory has signed on to make it happen. Just the opportunity to work with a true patriot and pro like Leslie Greif assures me this All-American victory will be told accurately and have audiences riveted to their seats."
Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger are co-authors of George Washington's Secret Six, a New York Times bestseller for more than five months. Kilmeade co-hosts
Fox News Channel's morning show "Fox & Friends" (6-9 AM/ET) and hosts
Fox News Radio's "Kilmeade & Friends" which runs weekdays from 9-12 AM/ET on all
Fox News affiliated radio stations. This is his fourth book. Yaeger, a former associate editor for Sports Illustrated, has written or co-written two dozen books, including Never Die Easy: The Autobiography of Walter Payton and A Game Plan for Life: The Power of Mentoring, co-written with the late John Wooden.
About Thinkfactory Media Thinkfactory Media is a full-service production company that creates high-quality entertainment content. Renowned for award-winning productions, the company was the driving force behind the Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R)-nominated hit mini-series Hatfields & McCoys (History), starring Kevin Costner. Other recent credits include: The 10-hour television event
TEXAS RISING (History),
MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP (We tv),
MARRIAGE BOOT CAMP: REALITY STARS (We tv),
MARRIED BY MOM AND DAD (TLC), Dead of Winter: The Donner Party (The Weather Channel),
VET SCHOOL (Nat Geo WILD) Preachers' Daughters (Lifetime), R&B Divas: Atlanta (TV One), R&B Divas: Los Angeles (TV One),
QUEENS OF DRAMA (Pop),
JUMP! (Lifetime),
STRANGE LOVE (TLC),
BIG GIANT SWORDS (Discovery), Gene Simmons: Family Jewels (A&E), Tony Danza: Teach (A&E), among many others. Find out more about Thinkfactory Media and its projects at
www.ThinkfactoryMedia.com and follow them on Twitter at @TFactoryMedia.
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