Book deadline passes without MLK love letters

Love letters between the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King remained in the hands of the Fulton County courts Friday, apparently spoiling a $1.4 million book deal.

The three surviving King children are battling over possession of the letters and other personal papers that were part of Coretta King’s estate.

Son Dexter King, negotiating on behalf of King Inc., which controls the rights to the Rev. King’s work, had secured the $1.4 million deal with Penguin Group for an autobiography of Coretta King. It was to have been written by journalist-turned-minister the Rev. Barbara Reynolds.

Dexter King’s sister Bernice King and brother Martin Luther King III have said their sibling acted without their approval and have refused to turn over the letters.

Penguin, a New York-based publisher, has said it would cancel the book deal if the papers were not in hand by Friday. If this happens, King Inc. would have to repay the publisher an advance it made to Reynolds.

A Penguin spokeswoman did not return telephone calls Friday.

Nicole Wade, an attorney for King Inc., said the publisher has already moved the deadline several times and would not do so again.

“These papers were originally supposed to be provided in July,” she said. “They’ve been rather patient.”

Last week, a judge ordered Bernice King, executor of her mother’s estate, and Martin Luther King III to turn over their mother’s papers to an auditor or “special master,” who would determine the disposition of the papers.

The auditor had not completed cataloging the papers as of 6 p.m. Friday. Wade said that even if the deadline for the book deal passed, that wouldn’t preclude the King corporation from pursuing a future project with the publishing house.

She added that Coretta King’s personal papers include far more than the suitcase of love letters that the civil rights icon kept under her bed.

Bernice King said those belongings, including letters, photographs and other items, are contained in 291 boxes stored in 13 rooms and closets, as well as in 28 filing cabinet drawers, at the King household.

She also said Coretta King’s estate rents seven storage units containing 629 additional boxes of material, including at least 70 boxes of papers and 10 crates of photographs.