The Golden One, indeed—in light of its early success, the title of Elizabeth Peters's latest Amelia Peabody mystery seems especially apt. The 13th caper starring the Egyptologist and her wacky family has hit both PW's and the New York Times lists in this author's highest positions to date, due in large part to her popularity and to Morrow's month-by-month marketing campaign. Postcards from Amelia were sent to key bookseller and media accounts (mailed from England, Amelia's home), followed by capacious umbrellas, with the quotation, "Once again proving, if proof were needed, the all-around usefulness of a good stout parasol." T-shirts followed—"Every year, another dead body." In addition, the novel was supported by a massive print ad campaign. The publisher shipped more than 100,000 copies, the largest shipping thus far in the series (the in-print total is 110,000 after two trips to press).
With reporting by Dick Donahue
