Skip to Navigation »
Skip to Content »

The Bookseller.com

1st December 2008

Jobs Activate Subscribe

What's Hot

Odd Titles Prize Events 2008 MLA Debate Rights Deals Age guidance Crisis at Woolies Book Video Awards Birthday Issue Paperback Preview Buyer's Guides Home Retail Catherine Neilan

News

Gibson Square doubles Jewel print run

24.09.08 Catherine Neilan

Gibson Square is doubling the initial print run of Sherry Jones's controversial novel The Jewel of Medina to 20,000, after taking pre-orders of more than 8,000 with almost a month to go before launch. The independent publisher, which had originally planned a print run of 10,000, secured the Commonwealth ex-Canada rights at the start of September.

It decided to review the number in light of pre-orders both here and in the US. Martin Rynja, m.d of Gibson Square, said he was keen to push the print run further if possible. “We are trying to keep up with the Americans,” he said. "The first step was 10,000 and we were comfortable with that. We have been gathering orders from Europe and places as far away as India, and as a result we have doubled the print run. It’s very exciting."

Author Jones's UK signing tour, which is expected to start after the Frankfurt Book Fair, would help to boost sales, he added. "She can explain what she was trying to do, to create a bridge between western and Middle Eastern cultures," he said.

Alan Jessop, m.d of independent sales group Compass, said he had seen "a great deal of interest" both from chains such as Blackwell’s and Waterstone’s, which are allowing individual branches to decide whether to stock the book, and from wholesalers selling onto independent booksellers.

He said: "Bearing in mind we have had to go from a standing start with this book at a very busy time, we are pretty pleased with this so far - and we are far from finished."

The date of publication has now been fixed as 15th October. Gibson Square revealed the new look of the cover, which will be embossed with gold, last week.

Book Gibson Square Home Catherine Neilan Sherry Jones Jewel of Medina

Comments on this article

By Scott Pack

So chains are 'allowing' individual branches to decide whether or not to stock the book? Is any intelligent, sensible store manager going to refuse to stock it? I would have thought most branches will not only stock it but make a point of displaying and featuring it prominently. With the demand as high as it is so far this book looks like it could sell quite well, possibly very well, which will be good news for publisher and retailers. But particularly for the publisher who could end up with a big order and front of store space in most branches without having to hand over any extra discount or marketing money.

24 Sep 08 09:29

By imatree

I'd be very cautious if I were Gibson Square. There is no doubt that this book has generated a high level of publicity pre-publication, but this does not necessarily mean sales. I'd wait for the sales to start coming before pushing the button on the next 10K, regardless of the 'free' space at the chains.

24 Sep 08 09:44

By Paperclip7

Maybe sensible and intelligent store managers would decide not to stock it to avoid molotov cocktails decorating their front of shop. This might not sound politically correct, but anyone who's worked in a bookshop with catchment area that includes a large muslim population will understand the kind of emotion a book like this can engender (e.g. book bonfires in Bradford in the early 90s). And for what? Controversy aside, does the book have any real merit anyway? Will it sell? At least 'The Satanic Verses' was good quality literature.

24 Sep 08 09:52

By Scott Pack

Paperclip, your comment assumes that Mulsims will actively campaign against the book. Isn't there a chance that they will read it and enjoy it? The publisher genuinely sees the book as appealing to a female Muslim audience in particular. I accept that some particularly excitable individuals may take issue just for the sake of it but is that any different to prim and proper middle-class mums complaining about the use of 'twat' in Jacqueline Wilson's book? I do agree that the book needs to succeed or fail on its own merits. Hopefully it will ge the chance to do just that.

24 Sep 08 10:25

By Paperclip7

I'm sure moderate, literate and middle class muslims could (potentially) enjoy it; my concern regards that segment of the UK's muslims who feel marginalised, live in deprived areas and whose young men in particular are becoming radicalized. It's this small but influential group that could take umbrage at the book's publication, and whilst the principle is similar to complaining about Jacqueline Wilson's use of swearing, the nature of the reaction could be somewhat different.

24 Sep 08 11:14

By Phil

Am in complete agreement with Paperclip7. If I were a store manager, I'd be very cautious about stocking the book. I have a feeling that many stores may adopt an "under the counter" approach - much like was done when The Satanic Verses was first released.

24 Sep 08 12:43

By JULIAN RIVERS

Now and again a book becomes available that is important , perhaps politically, perhaps for more literary reasons . Random House USA were of the mind echoed by Paperclip and Phil, they dare not publish because there may be a muslim reaction . Gibson Square have taken a bolder view . They have assessed the book carefully, talked with the author and had the book read by at least four muslim readers.They had a positive reaction we are told . Gibson Square believe that this book is opening up ancient Islam where beautiful stories exist often unknown to Muslims as well as others in the west . In publishing such work they have stated that they are seeking to build a bridge to Islam , rather than to attack it or to insult it . Clearly some are determined to be insulted but in general, booksellers have something of a responsibilty to avoid censorship by fear . I happened to be responsible for the policy of stocking Satanic Verses through the Dillons Chain when I was Marketing Director . We HAD to do it ,not for sales, but to show people it is not a matter for the individual to censor for the majority . Any bookseller will tell you that all sorts of organisations ask chains not to stock certain books . Radical Christians want to ban books on witchcraft and I even had a local vegitarian group wanting me to destock all meat cookery books . This is the thin end of censorship in a country where we are close to handing over the Lord Chaimberlains keys for fear of ,an as yet silent group,that MAY be offended if we really push them to be . This book is no Satanic Verses , but it is important and deserves support from the trade NOT under the counter . . .

24 Sep 08 15:42

By Huxtable

Hmm. Actually Julian, I'm pretty sure that Gibson simply know this kind of publicity can't be bought.

24 Sep 08 17:19

By Clive Keeble

Julian, how do you *know* that 'Jewel of Medina' is "important" ?? Have you read an advance copy ; is it a masterful work of literature ? I despise censorship ; however, I'm not going to purchase/stock the title just to stress that point. Pity that this title is not being sold *firm sale* to all the trade, then perhaps "we" might be wiser as to the real (retail) sales potential which I fear has been greatly over-egged. Trade talk is one thing, to convert that into hard retail sales is a very different matter as the overstocks and remainder markets always reminds us.

24 Sep 08 18:29

By JULIAN RIVERS

Clive how do you "know" that this book has been "greatly over-egged", ....." have you read an advanced copy?" Sic. Somehow I didn't have you down as a big stockist

25 Sep 08 08:24

By Clive Keeble

Julian, I don't know the title is over-egged, my actual words were I fear that to be the case. As for my business being a "big stockist" ; some in-print titles are ordered "firm sale" 50 at a time, some 10, some singly - it rather depends upon the long term sales prospects, but I seldom stock the more obvious populist titles.

25 Sep 08 08:44

By Paperclip7

Julian - "an as yet silent group"!? I seem to remember some bombs going off in London a few summers ago. And what of the Bradford/Oldham riots? Glasgow Airport? Richard Reid? Etc?! It is unfortunate that radical Islam has been allowed to grow as it has, but it can't be ignored. I'm a lover of free speech, but I'm against unnessecarily inflammatory actions like the publication of this book. I think Huxtable is closest to the mark so far, Gibson Square are enjoying extraodinary publicity for a book that they are publishing irresponsibly. And I'm taking a wild guess that the four muslims who read the book weren't imams. And as for having a responsibilty to avoid censorship by fear - most booksellers earn little more than a minimum wage, so I think that asking them to act as defenders of free speech is a bit much.

25 Sep 08 10:31

By JULIAN RIVERS

Clive and Paperclip ,I was of course refering to the book we are discussing here .I was not infering that you were not a stockist generally . Paperclip I understand the general extreemist history in London and elsewhere , I was refering to the low key reaction to the quite extensive press so far. You are of course in danger of having an empty bookshop eventually having passed over your meat books for destruction to the veggies and whole tracts of D.H Lawrence and other literature to the radical Christians who can be fairly hairy to deal with . The key is responsible publishing, and nothing has indicated to me that Gibson Square have been anything but responsible in trying to "forge a bridge to Islam " through literature made more readily available.

25 Sep 08 11:22

By Scott Pack

Paperclip, there is, of course, plenty of room for debate on this issue and there are bound to be differing views. It is a good and healthy thing that they can be aired here, and elsewhere. But then again, when someone is talking utter gonads it renders their argument impotent (an odd combination of phrases, I grant you). How can publishing this book be an 'unnnecessary inflammatory action'? Should publishers refrain from printing any book that may offend others? Your comments offend me but I believe you should be free to speak/type them.

25 Sep 08 15:01

By Scott Pack

Paperclip, there is, of course, plenty of room for debate on this issue and there are bound to be differing views. It is a good and healthy thing that they can be aired here, and elsewhere. But then again, when someone is talking utter gonads it renders their argument impotent (an odd combination of phrases, I grant you). How can publishing this book be an 'unnnecessary inflammatory action'? Should publishers refrain from printing any book that may offend others? Your comments offend me but I believe you should be free to speak/type them.

25 Sep 08 15:18

By JimmyP

Well lets all pack up and go home now... The day the sensibilities of a few very simple individuals who have not the mental capacity to find a balance between (any)religous belief/fantasy and reality determine what is suitable for mass public consumption is the day we should gather up as many books, tins of food, water and lock the door. The lunatics are running the asylum! I do not really care what the literary merits (if any!) of "Jewel of Medina" are... As an athiest, I am sick and tired of persons of lesser intelligence (and grasp on reality) determining what I can read, watch and listen to. Whilst I hope that the book does not cause anybody any grief, maybe it will help to flush some of snakes from the bush... And the last I heard, was it not a crime to threaten persons and property? Come on authorities, instead of clamping down on freedom of speech, let's try clamping down on mindless threats of secular violence!

28 Sep 08 11:57

By Paperclip7

Guys - this isn't a question of freedom of speech! Nobody is telling you what you can and can't say, and no legislation is preventing the release of this book. My point is that it is ill-advised and unduly provocative to do so. At the risk of sounding glib, you're also perfectly 'free' to walk up to a crowd of hooligans in Bermondsey and tell them hate Millwall and football is stupid - but you wouldn't (I realise that I'm typecasting a club here somewhat; apologies to any Lions fans reading). Not to mention the fact that underlying the principle of free speech and freedom of press is the implication that such freedom shouldn't be abused unnessecarily, as in this case by provoking a reaction from a small but dangerous group of people. There is a wider issue here about how general ignorance and misguided political correctness has allowed so many radical imams to preach in this country, who are the wellspring of the type of extremism we're sadly getting used to from a tiny section of British Muslims. This needs to be tackled, but it is hardly the responsibility of the publishing industry to do so. And Scott, I'm sorry that you find my views 'offensive', but then I'm also pretty sure you aren't going to be putting a firebomb through my window any time soon.

29 Sep 08 08:19

By David

Portraying Lies will harm the image of UK in history. And world in future will remember us as the bigghest liers of all time. If this book is published then in the books of history, we will be written as the depressed and all time loosers.

29 Sep 08 15:34

By imatree

what do you mean david? who is lying?

29 Sep 08 15:54

See Also