Among this week's new arrivals on our hardcover list are two novels by celebrated storytellers—Robert B. Parker and Mario Puzo. Putnam launched Parker's Death in Paradise on October 1 (first printing: 125,500), with a cover profile of the author in the new The Improper Bostonian magazine, a New York Post interview and an updated rebroadcast of his 1999 interview on CBS-TV's Sunday Morning. To promote this third entry in his Jesse Stone series, the author will be driving himself to New York City; Hartford, Conn.; Cleveland, Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio; and Louisville, Ky., in addition to making a number of bookstore appearances in the greater Boston area. In a profile in last week's PW, Parker revealed—among other things—his fondness for Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
At the time of Mario Puzo's death in 1999, he had reached the end of The Family (including the epilogue), notes publisher ReganBooks, though several chapters were unfinished. Working from the author's notes and outline, his longtime companion, novelist Carol Gino, completed the work, which was published on October 2. Gino has been the subject of features in People and Newsday; other publicity hits include first serial in Penthouse and a full-page USA Today ad. Among the media bookings to come is Gino's Today appearance, postponed after September 11. Copies in print: 230,000.
With reporting by Dick Donahue.
