PublishersLunch
A lengthy
feature in USA Today looks at Little, Brown's publicity and promotion plans
for JK Rowling's upcoming novel for adults THE CASUAL VACANCY. Rowling will
appear in public in the US just once, on October 16, when she will be in
conversation with Ann Patchett at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose
Hall, with ticket prices ranging between $37 and $44 (including a hardcover
copy of the book) though booksellers will be able to live-stream the event as
well.
Rowling, however, will be making a number
of television appearances to promote the book, which is published on September
27, including ABC's Nightline, World News and Good Morning America, as well as
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. She will also be interviewed by two print
outlets (one being USA Today, the other not named.)
Naturally, Michael Pietsch is effusive
about THE CASUAL VACANCY, telling the paper "I expect the world to be
ecstatic at the range of her imaginative reach" and that the book
"reminded me of Dickens because of the humanity, the humor, the social
concerns, the intensely real characters." Tattered Cover's Cathy Langer
also anticipates "robust sales" as Rowling "had hundreds of
thousands, if not millions, of adult fans for her Harry Potter series. … We
already have pre-orders and will have lots of books on hand for the release
date."
But the "low-key" buildup has
others less excited about the book's prospects. "I've been in the
dark," said head buyer at R.J. Julia Booksellers Kathryn Fabiani. "We
had no posters … It hasn't been easy. People are curious, but they don't know
what to expect." The upcoming release "seems almost invisible."
To which Little, Brown marketing director Heather Fain countered: "We
wanted to be very careful in our marketing. This is a very different book and
it is aimed at a truly different audience."
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