Q.: Who's this fall's easiest author to book for media appearances? A.: New York City's former mayor, we'd bet. To promote his hot new tome, Leadership, Rudy Giuliani's roster of interviews, guest spots, print features, etc., seems as long as Broadway itself (reputed to be the longest street in the U.S.). How hot is this Talk Miramax release? Since its October 1 pub date, it's gone through seven printings and is up to 705,000 copies. It's topping not only PW's list, but also those for the New York Times and Book Sense. Each bookstore event has drawn "hundreds of people," reports associate publicity director Bruce Mason, "many purchasing several copies at a time." For the former mayor's first store appearance, at B&N's Rockefeller Center location, crowds began gathering at 2 a.m.; the line eventually stretched for two blocks. Giuliani's topics with the fans include not only his book and September 11, but also the Yankees. The book and lecture tour continues throughout 2003.
With reporting by Dick Donahue