The Bookseller.com

2nd December 2008

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Wales Book of the Year gaffe boosts sales

30.07.08

The Claude Glass by writer Tom Bullough, the author who was wrongly named as the winner of the Wales Book of the Year award, is "flying off the shelves" following his ordeal, according to Walesonline.

Proving the adage that there’s no such thing as bad publicity, interest in the young writer’s novel has picked up as a result of news reports about the gaffe, reports the website.

Footage was broadcast across the UK and the internet of Bullough going to collect the award, only to be told that the prize would go to poet Dannie Abse instead.

Since then, Borders in Cardiff has seen sales of The Claude Glass increase. The store's David Hughes said: “The paperbacks have been flying out. It would seem there’s been more interest since that [gaffe].”

Elwyn Jones, head of public relations at the Welsh Books Council, said: “The publicity hasn’t done Tom Bullough any harm. We’re aware that people have been saying, ‘We have to read this book now, just to see.’"

Meanwhile, extra copies of the book are on order for Powys libraries to meet recent demand for copies.

Author Susan Hill has also urged her fans to read The Claude Glass. She wrote on her blog: "Nothing to be done about it of course. Oh come on, yes there bloody well is. You can buy a copy of Tom’s novel, and while you’re at it make that two.”

Walesonline

Prize Wales Book of the Year