"Instant book" on Obama published: "People can't get enough of Barack Obama."

[DeepModem Mom]

WSJ: 'Instant Book' Bets on Obama Appeal
Publisher Moves Fast to Tap Interest While It's Still Hot
By JEFFREY A. TRACHTENBERG
March 1, 2007; Page B5


Quick turnaround: "Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama"

Last Christmas, J.P. Leventhal, publisher of the small independent press Black Dog & Leventhal, was invited to the Barnes & Noble Inc. holiday party at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Manhattan's Time Warner Center. Arriving early, he stopped off at a Borders bookstore and saw two books written by Barack Obama, the Democratic Senator from Illinois many expected would soon announce his candidacy for the White House.

Mr. Leventhal, however, didn't see any books written about Mr. Obama. During the party he broached this with several Barnes & Noble executives, who indicated that they would be very interested in just such a title -- if he could deliver it quickly.

And he did. This week, less than a month after Mr. Obama formally announced his candidacy, Black Dog's "Hopes and Dreams: The Story of Barack Obama," is hitting bookstores nationwide. Black Dog has printed 100,000 copies of the book, written by Steve Dougherty, including paperbacks priced at $9.95 as well as a special hardcover edition for Barnes & Noble priced at $9.98.

"People can't get enough of Barack Obama," said Bruce Lubin, vice president of book development at Barnes & Noble, the nation's largest book retailer. "We think there's an audience." Mr. Lubin declined to say how many books Barnes & Noble has ordered, but described the chain's commitment as "strong." The 128-page book, printed in a magazine-style size and full of photographs of its subject, is being offered in prime front-of-the-store locations and on current-events tables....

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB117271570291322869-XFhDGcWjt_VnqoT8jv_yBYSZ0Ns_20080229.html?mod=blogs

[Ian David]

1. Tomorrow, they're going to announce the "Obama Babies" cartoon on Noggin. n/t

[ellacott]

2. LOL, That was funny n/t

[Ninja Jordan]

3. Is it a joke?