Bestseller v

[plinsenmayer at yahoo.com]

Original Yahoo! HPFG Header:
No: HPFGUIDX C1928
From: plinsenmayer
Subject: Bestseller v
Reply To: [Yahoo! #1924] Re: Book Ages
Date: 6/13/00 7:32 pm  (ET)

Hi:

<Until recently the HP books were listed on the regular LA Times
bestseller list. I had heard of other publications getting objections
from publishers and authors that the books should only appear on the
children's bestseller lists.>

I personally think it's preposterous for the HP books to be removed
from any of the official bestseller lists (especially the NY Times!!!),
on the grounds that they are children's books. I have heard rumor that
the NY Times Bestseller List will cave to publisher pressure in this
regard in the near future, and I think it's an outrage.

The performance of the HP titles on the NY Times list was what drew me
to the HP books in the first place, so perhaps that's why this is such a
sore spot with me. It's also quite clear to me that 30 million copies++
aren't sold solely to the 9-12 set. I read somewhere that a bestselling
children's book is regarded as anything that sells 300,000 copies. The HP
books have outstripped that measure by such a margin that it's just nuts
to say that they should be relegated to a "children's bestseller list."

The first print run of HP #4 (whatever the title is!) is projected
to be the largest in publishing history (not just children's books
history). Grisham's largest 1st print run so far was less than 2.5
million I believe.

I say we all write letters to the NY Times . . .!!!!!

As for HP marketing in the UK, I feel compelled to comment that I was
very disappointed on my recent visit to the UK. I made a point to go in
several bookstores around England & Scotland while we were there -- in
most cases, I couldn't even find the HP books. I did find the adult cover
versions in pb at Harrod's. But, Harrod's children's book section had
no HP books at all (let alone a large display). I think I was expecting
more somehow. At least here in the US, you can't walk into a bookstore
without tripping over a pile of HP books. I've been buying sets of them
for gifts at Sam's (a wholesale club), and the cashier told me last week
that they get a shipment of HP books *every day*! Wow!

Penny