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Publishers are squaring up to this week's news that Dan Brown is back, with Transworld's plans to catapult the big-name author's new thriller into May ruffling other publishers' spring schedules.
Meanwhile Transworld, which revealed the book's title, Inferno, via Twitter and a digital mosaic, in partnership with Doubleday US, said social media would continue to be a "pivotal" part of the new book's campaign.
Little, Brown marketing director Charlie King said Sphere was unlikely to switch the release of Mark Billingham's new title, The Dying Hours, planned for 23rd May, but said: "When a big release drops into the schedule like that all publishers will look at their schedule to see if their own authors can get the space and attention they deserve." Orion deputy publisher Jon Wood said the publisher would not be moving any titles as it was "fortunate" not to have any of its big books planned for May. However, he expected other publishers to make changes, and that that in turn might lead to another phase of release date shuffling in response. "It might be a month or two before it calms down," he warned.
Retailers are predicting that the book will be the biggest seller of 2013. Waterstones head of books Rik McShane said its arrival was "fantastic" news for Brown's fans, and "great news for booksellers", adding: "The Lost Symbol broke all sorts of sales records on its release in 2009 and this new title is likely to be the bestselling book of 2013."
Foyles web editor Jonathan Ruppin said: "Our feeling is that anything that gets books into the news pages and makes books part of the national conversation is beneficial . . . We'd prefer that publishers didn't shift too much round in their schedules: with more people coming into bookshops, it's a great opportunity to show them what else is new." However, independent bookseller Nic Bottomley of Mr B's Emporium said the expected heavy discounting of the title would mean the book would only be of "passing interest" to his shop.
Inferno is inspired by Dante's classic of the same name and features recurring hero Dr Robert Langdon in a narrative publisher Bill Scott-Kerr described as "breathtaking rollercoaster ride" which "returns to the heart of old Europe and to the territory so compellingly occupied by The Da Vinci Code." The author himself is promising fans a journey into "a landscape of codes, symbols and more than a few secret passageways," inspired by the work of the medieval Italian poet. Inferno will be published on 14th May, as a £20 hardback, and in e-book and audio formats. Amazon.co.uk is today 18th January) pricing the Kindle e-book for pre-order at £8.99 and the hardback at £9.99.
Transworld, with Doubleday US, revealed the title of the book through a social media exercise, and director of media relations Alison Barrow said the campaign would continue along the same lines. "Social media was still on the periphery of book promotions when we published The Lost Symbol in 2009. Now it is integral to almost all of the promotions we implement, often driving pre-awareness and early sales . . . It will continue to be a pivotal part of the ongoing campaign," she said. Barrow added: "Dan himself will, as ever, be involved in all aspects of the campaign." However, there is no confirmation of an author visit to the UK.