The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

UK publishers plan Obama push

05.11.08 Victoria Gallagher

Barack Obama's victory in the the US presidental race has put UK publishers on the front foot. Independent press Arcadia has pulled forward publication of its Obama book, while Canongate has said that it is already in discussions with Obama's camp about a book for early 2009.

Arcadia's Barack Obama: The Movement of Change by Anthony Painter, will now be published next month. "The book was scheduled for January, but now we're rushing it out in December," said Gary Pulsifer, publisher at Arcadia. The book was only finished on Wednesday morning, but Arcadia said it was eager to get the book out "in time for Christmas".

The two most popular Obama titles in the UK are both published by Canongate--Audacity of Hope, and Dreams from My Father--with the two titles having already sold more than 140,000 copies between them, according to Nielsen BookScan data. Nick Davies, editorial director of non-fiction at Canongate said the publisher now intended to print 120,000 more copies, but would not be updating the books. But Davies added: "We're already talking to Barack's US publisher and agent about a book for early 2009".

Edinburgh University Press has not moved the publication date of Barack Obama - Leading the US in a Post-American World by Carl Pedersen, from its February schedule, but Anna Glazier, marketing manager at EUP, admitted it was pleased with the result and said "obviously there will be a lot more interest now".

Fellow indie Gibson Square, which backed the wrong horse, with books on both John McCain and Sarah Palin, remained positive despite the defeat.

Gibson Square published Faith of My Fathers and Hard Call by John McCain earlier this year. Publisher Martin Rynja said the books would still sell. "McCain has run a very clean campaign and that is to his credit," said Rynja. "Now he is not being seen as a mini Bush, people will start seeing him for who he is."

Gibson Square has also just published Sarah Palin: The Rise of a Political Star by Kaylene Johnson. Rynja said that Palin should not be "underestimated". "She has clearly got star magic, I think she will be a big force," said Rynja. "We will be hearing a lot more from her."

Gibson Square previously published a title on Condoleezza Rice and Rynja said that he had been looking into books on Michelle Obama but had not done anything as yet.

Simon & Schuster UK is publishing Michelle: A Biography by Washington Post staff writer Lisa Mundy on 1st December.

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