Amazon's Clout Helps Debut Novel
The Wall Street Journal looks at how David Wroblewski's debut novel THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE (Ecco) benefited from being championed by Amazon.com. The 566-page literary novel has already gone into its seventh printing -- a reported total of 90,000 copies -- a week after its publication. Driving that unexpectedly heavy demand has been strong reviews and promotional support from Amazon.com, which chose the book as one of the best books of June, kept it on its home page for two weeks at a 40% discount before the book hit stores, and posted an essay written by the author at Amazon's request. "We also had a preorder banner in May, which is something we do for books that we think will have significant interest for our customers," says Tammy Hovey, an Amazon spokeswoman.
 
Amazon's enthusiasm, combined with strong reviews in national newspapers, has helped other retailers take notice. "It's doing fabulously well and we've already reordered," B&N fiction buyer Sessalee Hensley told the WSJ, and Costco increased its initial order to 18,000 copies from 3,000.
WSJ

The PFD Saga Continues
Not surprisingly, yesterday's news that former Sunday Times editor Andrew Neil has agreed to buy PFD from CSS Stellar generates more attention in the UK news media. Neil, the current chief executive of the Spectator, explained his decision to buy the troubled literary agency, which is only just recovering from last year's mass defection that created United Agents, stemmed from its back catalog: "If you were an asset-stripper you would be prepared to pay this price to close the company down and live off its back book, though that is absolutely not what we want to do." PFD will also retain Caroline Michel as its CEO and will give her an unspecified stake in the business. Neil also warned not to expect a rapprochement with United Agents. "They still owe us money. All the best tunes have been sung by the United Agents so far, but we're going to be more robust and aggressive."
Independent
Bookseller

Announcements
At the Doubleday Publishing Group, Bill Thomas has been named senior v-p, editor-in-chief and publisher, general adult books. He has been editor-in-chief of Doubleday since 1998. Stacy Creamer has been promoted to editor-in-chief of Broadway from deputy editorial director, and Charles Conrad, editorial director for Broadway paperbacks, has been promoted to deputy editorial director of the imprint. Both will continue to report to Thomas.
 
Penguin was named Publisher of the Year at the Australian Book Industry Awards and by the Canadian Booksellers Association.
 
John Fagan has been named Marketing Director, eBooks, for Penguin. This is a newly created position added to his current duties as Vice President, Director of Marketing for Penguin Books and the company's Executive Director, Marketing and Sales.
 
Andrew Proctor will add Operations Director to his responsibilities at PEN American Center where he is the Director of Membership and of the Writers' Fund. Lara Tobin will join PEN full time as Membership Associate.
 
Timothy Mennel has been named senior editor at the American Planning Association, overseeing both Planners Press and PAS reports.
 

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• University to Stop Distribution Titles by "Radical" Publisher
• Puzo Son Lawsuit over "Godfather" Game
• Potter by the Numbers
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• BEA 2008 Now Playing at Publishers Lunch TV

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