Publishers prepare for Super Thursday
28th September 2011 - 11:10am
The publishing world is preparing for one of the most important days in its calendar this week – Super Thursday – which sees almost three times the average number of hardback titles being released in the UK.
Tomorrow (September 29th), 225 hardback books will go on sale in the UK, including a number of titles expected to go on and top the bestseller lists over the festive period as people buy Christmas presents.
Anna Valentine, Harper non-fiction editorial director, told the Bookseller the 'strongest launch possible' is key to titles securing the top chart positions over Christmas.
Foyles senior buyer Jasper Sutcliffe said books launched on Super Thursday have 'two bites at the cherry', as they appeal to those who regularly buy books in the autumn, then festive gift buyers later on.
'We've got Back to University as well, so goods in are working pretty hard, but we are on top of it. Distributors are on top of their game,' he added.
Last year, ten of the titles released on Super Thursday went on to generate over GBP 1 million in sales and it is thought this year's books – including Jamie Oliver's Jamie's Great Britain and Alan Sugar's new book, The Way I See It, could follow suit.
