As part of the multiyear pact, the venture will acquire and publish books for young readers. Naturally, it also plans to turn several of its tomes into film adaptations or pair up properties with other filmmakers.

First published title will be "The Will of Will Wolfkin," by screenwriter Steven Knight, who penned the pics "Dirty Pretty Things," "Eastern Promises" and "Amazing Grace."

Knight is also scripting the third installment of the "Narnia" series, "Voyage of the Dawn Treader," which Michael Apted is helming.

"Wolfkin" is described as a fantasy set under a glacier in Iceland. It hits bookshelves in fall 2009.

Imprint will be led by Brenda Bowen, VP and publisher of the Bowen Press at HarperCollins, and Deborah Kovacs, senior VP of publishing at Walden Media.

New entity will have offices at HarperCollins' headquarters in New York and Walden Media in Boston, and will be staffed with its own editorial and marketing team.

Walden and HarperCollins have already been working closely together, adapting "The Chronicles of Narnia" franchise, "Charlotte's Web" and "Bridge to Terabithia" into films.

"This joint venture solidifies our already successful relationship," said Susan Katz, prexy and publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books. "Having a single imprint will enable Walden Media to focus their book publishing program and Harper to market and sell the books most effectively."

Altogether, Walden has released 15 pics based on children's books, including "Holes," "Nim's Island," "The Water Horse" and "Because of Winn-Dixie."

It's also co-published a number of books across several imprints at Penguin such as Ingrid Law's "Savvy," Mike Lupica's "Comeback Kids" series, Lauren St. John's "The White Giraffe" and Michael Reisman's "Simon Bloom, the Gravity Keeper." Walden is developing "Savvy" and "White Giraffe" as features. Universal picked up "Simon Bloom" last year.

Variety.com

We had the opportunity to interview Nim's Island author Wendy Orr.  We took that chance, and she very graciously answered 20 quesions for us.  Enjoy!

WaldenFans.com: Tell us a bit about yourself, for our readers that might not know much about you.

Wendy Orr: I was born in Canada, grew up in Canada, France, and the USA but married an Australian while studying occupational therapy in London, UK, and so have lived in Australia ever since! My husband Tom and I have a grownup son and daughter. I started writing 20 years ago and have written picture books and novels for young adults and adults as well as my main genre of junior novels, like  Nim's Island.

WaldenFans.com: Can you give us a quick teaser for Nim's Island that will give us an idea of what we're in for?

Wendy Orr: Nim and her scientist dad, Jack, live an eccentric but idyllic existence on a tropical island. When Jack sails off on a two day plankton-finding excursion, Nim is happy to be alone with her animal friends, including sea lion Selkie and lizard Fred. However a violent storm comes up and Jack' s boat is damaged,  losing its mast as well as his satellite dish, so that he can't return to Nim or communicate with her. Meanwhile Nim answers an email from Alex Rover, the world's most famous adventure writer, and when she is injured attempting to answer Alex's research question, turns to the adventure hero for help. Unfortunately the real Alex Rover is in fact an agoraphobic woman, who must also draw strength from her own fictitious hero and face her fears to try to rescue Nim.