Posted on 04/30/2003 4:04:37 AM PDT by Liz
Memoir: Sen. Hillary Clinton's 'Living History' goes on sale June 9, but Simon & Schuster has no bids yet for excerpt.
Plans to print a million copies of Sen. Hillary Clinton's memoir are so far missing a key detail - the name of the magazine that will run an excerpt before the book goes on sale June 9.
The word is that Simon & Schuster has asked only a limited number of mags if they wanted to consider "Living History" for an excerpt and has yet to show them the manuscript. And none has bid yet.
Such exposure, a virtual certainty with such a high-profile title, typically earns a publisher or author a nice check while also trumpeting a book's arrival.
But three mags that have carried excerpts of other books - The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Vanity Fair and Newsweek - answered inquiries from the Daily News by saying they don't plan to publish a piece of Clinton's memoir.
The New Yorker also is believed to be staying on the sidelines.
It was unclear if all four of the mags were among those approached by Simon & Schuster, which bought rights to publish the former first lady's book around the world for $8 million.
At the same time, a U.S. News & World Report spokesman said the mag is interested.
Time and People, both owned by Time Inc., appear to be the other likely contenders.
Their level of interest may depend on how much Clinton reveals about her White House years and marriage.
Newsweek editor in chief Richard Smith told The News: "It's fair to say that, given our significant spending on Iraq and other international coverage, we're looking very carefully at any spending on optional items."
Meanwhile, more than a month before the book's release, there was evidence of why Simon & Schuster ordered a million-copy printing.
At online bookseller Amazon.com, "Living History" was ranked No. 2,630 in orders late Monday, the day Simon & Schuster announced the on-sale date and title. By late yesterday, the book stood at No. 73.
The rival BN.com showed the book at No. 618,267 on Monday, but up at No. 13 yesterday.
For the online booksellers, these are real sales already made with credit cards.
Book Revue, a bellwether independent store in Huntington, L.I., has ordered "several thousand" copies, according to co-owner Richard Klein.
By contrast, unsold copies in stores can be returned to the publisher.
"Sen. Clinton will sign books on June 24, but even if she weren't coming, I would have ordered a lot of copies," he added. "She inspires a great deal of interest and I think it's going to be a powerhouse book."
A publisher faces a big risk with a huge printing, as Random House was reminded in 1996.
Bill Clinton's "Between Hope and History," a collection of political views released on the eve of his reelection campaign, became a best-seller and then a big flop. Of the 500,000 copies printed, 425,000 remained unsold at the end of the year.
Hitlery's remainder should top this easily.
My goodness, what does it take to "become a best seller", more than 5 books in the first day? I wonder who REALLY bought the greater part of the 75,000 that sold - I wouldn't put it past Klinton arranging to have a bunch bought just to make that "best seller" list.
I guess it just goes to prove "Stupid is as stupid does".
I for one will lose no sleep or shed no tears when you're left holding the empty bag, and the laughing you hear in the distance is perverted klintons as they walk away with your millions.
Hillary will get her excerpts. Or some publishers will be getting Get Well cards signed by Vince Foster.
There's a title with a twist a narcissist like her would love.
The on-line book sales numbers are misleading as well, since it is possible to CANCEL any such order and get a credit-card refund. That still does not become REAL sales until it's shipped.
I still like "Fibbing History".
Gee, after all these years Hitlery is going to open up and admit to all the corruption....NOT!!!! Rest assured this book will be a puff piece that will quickly find its way to the clearence rack, once the public realizes that she (or her ghost writer) doesn't reveal anything we haven't heard before. S & S knew this going in, this whole deal was a disguised campaign contribution, any money made from book sales would just be an unexpected bonus for them.
Maybe it's because they realize that this book is really better categorized under "Fiction"?!
Dick Morris had a great point the other day on Hannity & Colmes. He said she had decent ratings only because she had been keeping her mouth shut.
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