The Resurrectionist by Australian author James Bradley (Picador) and Addition by Australian author Toni Jordan are two of the eight titles that have been chosen for the influential Richard & Judy summer reads list in the UK.

The selection of Bradley's tale of bodysnatchers in London in the 1800s has prompted the author's UK publisher Faber to publish an initial paperback print run of 110,000, according to Pan Macmillan spokesperson Annie Coulthard, far more than the ‘modest paperback release' that had been planned.

Coulthard told WBN that Pan Macmillan is planning a ‘a special edition with the Faber cover' and reading notes, adding that Faber had ‘repacked the book as a gothic thriller'. ‘We're just so excited,' she said. ‘It's like winning an extremely prestigious competition.'

Text publisher Michael Heyward told WBN Jordan's novel, which was first published in Australia in February this year to favourable reviews, had been 'a stellar debut in every respect'.

Published by Sceptre in the UK, after the publishing house won a five-way auction for the UK rights, Addition has been sold into 10 countries worldwide. ‘The novel is attracting considerable film interest,' adds Heyward. ‘The Richard & Judy pick will not only give Addition every chance of becoming a UK bestseller but it will help us sell even more foreign territories and can only help increase awareness of what a fabulously original and entertaining romantic comedy this is.'

Pan Macmillan is similarly confident the Richard & Judy selection with drive foreign rights sales on The Resurrectionist. ‘The commercial clout of a Richard & Judy "pick" in the UK cannot be underestimated,' said Picador publisher Rod Morrison.

The Resurrectionist has enjoyed healthy sales of ‘just under 4000 copies' in Australia, but sold fewer than 300 copies in hardback in the UK. Faber's increased print-run for the title is testament to the power of the Richard and Judy television program and summer reads selection. 

 ‘Quite simply it has the power to transform careers,' said Morrison. ‘The selection of The Resurrectionist by James Bradley is extremely well-deserved and all of us at Picador are thrilled to bits for him.'

http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2008/06/08575/

This article from Thorpe Bowker's Weekly Book Newsletter and Media Extra is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2008, Thorpe-Bowker

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