Whether you want to call it luck, irony or good timing, it seems appropriate that Suze Orman is the first author to bow under the Spiegel & Grau banner. Who better than Orman, whose forthcoming Women & Money is intended to motivate women to take charge of their financial destinies, to be the inaugural face of a new, high-profile female-run imprint?
Julie Grau, who was Orman's longtime editor at Riverhead, said talks about Women & Money began before S&G even came into existence. Explaining that Orman finishes a book every two years, Grau said timing was key in releasing Women & Money. Although S&G won't roll out its full list until 2008, Orman's book—300,000 copies will be shipped to the trade—needed to be published in 2007 because it's tied to heavy marketing campaigns with PBS and QVC.
As were the other five books Grau has worked on with Orman, Women & Money will be available on QVC a month in advance of its February 27 trade release. Then, in what Grau dubbed "essentially an infomercial for the book," Orman will promote the title on an hour-long PBS special that will air several times March 3—18. Orman will also plug the book on her MSNBC show. Given that Orman will be touring for the book in March as well, Grau notes: "It will feel like you can't escape Suze Orman that month."
The book, which, said Grau, taps into the "emotional and behavioral issues" that prevent women from making good finanacial decisions—whether it be the basics of balancing a checkbook or how to invest—will also get a push from a deal with a major brokerage house. Grau could not release specifics on the deal, which will be announced formally later this month.
The other S&G title scheduled for release in 2007 is Ghostwalk. Edited and acquired by Cindy Spiegel, the debut novel by British author Rebecca Scott—S&G describes it as equal parts ghost story, love story and historical novel—is being released in the U.S. to coincide with the British publication. The hope, said Grau, is to pick up any momentum from what's expected to be a big U.K. laydown.
Currently, S&G has eight titles set for 2008. Among its lineup of heavy hitters is breakout bestseller Sara Gruen (Like Water for Elephants), whose forthcoming Ape House was part of a two-book deal for a reported seven figures. Also on the list is Ellington Boulevard, Adam Langer's third novel; New York Times culture reporter Warren St. John's currently untitled book about an unusual soccer team; and a visually driven book about African-American culture from rapper-actor-poet Mos Def. Grau also touted S&G's first big foreign rights seller, Fraction of the Whole. Rights to the book, by Australian author Steve Toltz, have been sold in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden.
