Clinton-Knopf Partnership Keeps on Giving
By Rachel Deahl and Kevin Howell -- Publishers Weekly, 7/10/2007 11:41:00 AM
Knopf isn't saying yet where Bill Clinton will go to promote his new book on civic activism, GIVING: How Each of Us Can Change the World, which is set for release Sept. 4, but booksellers say wherever he visits his appearance will be the event of the season.
"Clinton is an absolutely rock star across the country. I think every place he goes will be totally sold out and each stop will sell thousands of books," said Betsy Burton, of King’s English bookstore in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Clinton writes about charitable work done by the famous and not-so-famous in his new book, which will be published with a one-day laydown the Tuesday following Labor Day. Knopf has announced a 750,000-copy first printing for the hardcover, which will be simultaneously released as an audiobook read by the author, an ebook and in large print. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to charity.
The manuscript was acquired by Knopf chairman and editor-in-chief Sonny Mehta. The project reunites Clinton and his editor Robert Gottlieb, who worked closely together on Clinton's 2004 memoir My Life, which has gone on to sell over 13 million copies in multiple formats (including hardcover, paperback, mass market and audio), according to Neilsen BookScan.
Booksellers well remember not only the success of that book, but the huge crowds of people who showed up at every stop on the promotional tour to stand in line for a signature and 10 seconds of face time with the president. With the charismatic Clinton possibly even more popular now--and increasingly in the news as his wife's biggest campaign asset--the excitement generated by his tour is likely to be at least as great as it was three years ago.
Carla Cohen, owner of the Washington, DC-based Politics and Prose Bookstore & Coffeehouse called GIVING "our kind of book." Though she wondered how much touring he will really do, she added, "The book will sell whether he travels or not, but it will really sell if he travels with it."
As for the subject matter, Sheryl Cotleur, head buyer at Book Passage in Corte Madera, Calif, likes the idea of melding the political with the philanthropic. She added that political books are hot right now, so that also bodes well for Clinton. Knopf is saying little about the book’s contents—beyond that various individuals and organizations are profiled in an attempt to show the importance and lasting effect of charity work.
The book, which had been slated for a late 2007, early 2008 release, was moved up in anticipation of the annual meeting for Clinton’s nonpartisan non-profit, the Clinton Global Initiative. "We wanted books to be available prior to the annual meeting…as many parties attending this forum will have a tremendous interest in the ideas and sentiments the President explores in GIVING," Bogaards said.
As for how Bill Clinton's book will affect Hillary Clinton’s run for the White House, Bogaards said "the book has nothing to do with the campaign." But Bogaards' promise that, "readers will find the people and material inspiring," suggests readers aren't likely to fine much that's controversial or potentially awkward for presidential candidate Clinton.
Still, Burton thinks Bill Clinton is such a dynamo there could be a downside for his wife. "He could conceivably suck up the limelight."
