For Elizabeth Peters's latest Amelia Peabody caper, Lord of the Silent, Morrow began a month-by-month sales campaign last January, when the author mailed postcards from Egypt to booksellers and media announcing the return of the beloved sleuth. These were followed by a newsletter from Peters, publication announcements and T-shirts stating "Another Shirt Ruined" (a favorite plaint of Amelia's). All this led up to the book's national laydown on May 1; copies in print: 95,000. Strong early trade reviews helped this Lord on his way, as did the author's 20-city national radio satellite tour.

With reporting by Dick Donahue.