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Penguin, Doubleday Drum Up 'Devil May Care' Hype

Plus, possible storyline hints and Bond girl name

Doubleday 'Devil May Care' Website Online

Plus a video featuring author Sebastian Faulks

[K1Bond007]

The "Daniel Craig may help sales of DMC" thing is probably true too. With the high anticipation of Quantum of Solace I think DMC could fair pretty well and a 2nd marketing push in and around November could be mean big sales. I never thought too highly of Robert Ludlum's books. He's not a bad author, but I never thought his Bourne novels were anything special (incredibly overrated IMO) and yet he's selling pretty big right now. I assume Craig's run as Bond could re-energize the adult Bond book sales.

[Jim]

The Poppy thing is interesting; if not true, it's quite fun, given the cover.

[wattenscheid09]

The complete title with new sub-title would then be "Devil May Care (Whether Poppy is Also a Flower)"?

[Loomis]

As someone who can't wait to crack open DEVIL MAY CARE and be thrilled and spilled by it, I'm delighted that so little plot information has leaked.

These new spoilers - which tell us next to nothing - are the only spoilers I want or need.

If Bond is going to be going up against

Spoiler

the heroin trade

, I wonder whether he'll end up going down

Spoiler

the Popeye Doyle/Jack Bauer route, if you get my drift

.

Anyway, looks like it's time for me to put in place a personal news blackout on DMC until that glorious day when the book is gripped in my sweaty hands.

Stephen Rubin, president of Bertelsmann AG's Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group admitted he hopes the success of Daniel Craig's debut 007 movie, Casino Royale will push sales. "The whole thing was moribund. The Robert Ludlum franchise is completely re-energized because of what Matt Damon did in the Bourne movies. We think this is a greater opportunity."

Evidence, surely, that the Craig era has kicked the Bond franchise up to a whole new level? (Sorry, Craig-haters.) After all, the Benson novels appeared when new Bond films were also hitting cinemas. Mind you, as I understand it, the Bensons were barely marketed at all.

[Skudor]

I'm excited about DMC in a way that I never was about the previous continuation novels, or the YB novels (which were hyped enough). Will have to read this one in one sitting, and then again!

[Loomis]

I'm excited about DMC in a way that I never was about the previous continuation novels, or the YB novels (which were hyped enough).

Same here. DEVIL MAY CARE is in a whole different league.

Will have to read this one in one sitting, and then again!

But of course.

[MarcAngeDraco]

For whatever reason, I'm just not as excited about DMC as I thought I would be at this point. I don't really know why, which rather bothers me.

Anyway, I will certainly buy it and read it so I will now be avoiding any more info about it until after I finish it.

[David Schofield]

For whatever reason, I'm just not as excited about DMC as I thought I would be at this point. I don't really know why, which rather bothers me.

I'm certainly on that line.

Largely because I've been so disappointed by every previous continuation. And because of a nagging doubt about whether Faulks isn't over qualified...

I desperately hope I am wrong.

[Loomis]

I'm sure you are (he writes airily ), but I do wonder whether those publishing moguls who seem to be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of a spectacular performance on the back of Daniel Craig (fnarr) are in for some disappointment.

Not sure that the public at large is as up for a period Bond novel in (and this appears to be the only real selling point) a good imitation of the dated voice of Fleming as many of us hardcore 007 fans are. I don't see this being a real runaway bestseller, although I hope it will be one (obviously).

Still, Faulks' name should guarantee at least respectable sales.

[David Schofield]

I'm sure you are (he writes airily ), but I do wonder whether those publishing moguls who seem to be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of a spectacular performance on the back of Daniel Craig (fnarr) are in for some disappointment.

Not sure that the public at large is as up for a period Bond novel in (and this appears to be the only real selling point) a good imitation of the dated voice of Fleming as many of us hardcore 007 fans are. I don't see this being a real runaway bestseller, although I hope it will be one (obviously).

Still, Faulks' name should guarantee at least respectable sales.

As I've said (I think!) on another thread, all it will take is for the first few mainstream reviews to echo what you have said, Loom, adding that Fleming wasn't a great writer anyway ( ) and that Faulks is slumming it, and those high bestsellers hopes WILL take a knock.

But we will have another continuation novel in our hands...

[doublenoughtspy]

Those print runs are incredibly high.

[Qwerty]

Thrilled we got even this tiny bit of plot info.

Only a matter of days now!

[doublenoughtspy]

Still, Faulks' name should guarantee at least respectable sales.

Really? The article states that Faulks' latest only sold 4000 copies in the US.

Once again - rock star in the UK, who? in the US.

It will be interesting to compare the UK and US marketing campaigns - I'm betting that the UK will focus on Faulks/Fleming Centennary - the US will focus on Bond's return.

[Loomis]

Still, Faulks' name should guarantee at least respectable sales.

Really? The article states that Faulks' latest only sold 4000 copies in the US.

Once again - rock star in the UK, who? in the US.

I must admit that I was thinking only of United Kingdom sales when I made that post. Frankly, the concept of DEVIL MAY CARE doing any real business at all on your side of the pond hadn't even crossed my mind.

But doesn't James Bond - be it the cinematic James Bond or the literary James Bond - always do better in Britain than in America? It's just the way it goes. Let's look at your man Dalton: THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS was, if I'm not mistaken, a blockbuster on British soil, but only a middling hit Stateside. LICENCE TO KILL was still a solid success (just about) in the UK - in America, well, don't ask.

I'm guessing that all the continuation novels sold rather better in Britain than they did in the States.

[zencat]

Heroin, a girl named Poppy. Ah, that felt good. That will hold me two more weeks. Great article with great info (even if it ignores the YB series which has been a post-Fleming success for IFP). Did you see the bit about DMC excepts in the July Vanity Fair? Sweet.

[sharpshooter]

This heroin news has me all high on excitement. It sounds like a real world plot that Dalton would tackle.

[zencat]

You know, this article paints all the continuation novels and novelists as unsuccessful, but I seem to recall the first few Gardner books placed in Top 10 on the NYT bestseller list and I recall a lot of hype surrounding the release of License Renewed. Just saying.

[doublenoughtspy]

I agree Zencat. The same thing happened when Benson took over from Gardner. On his site, he talked about how Glidrose/IFP really threw him under the bus - acting like his changes hadn't been approved by them!

Same with the Bond actors. People feel the need to denigrate the previous regime to pump up the current one.

Bond's literary ressurection is a real event - but let's not pretend that it wasn't celebrated and successful in 68 and 81.

[zencat]

And currently with Young Bond, which is a monster success in the UK.

But, that's ok. The WSJ take on this is it's a revival of the adult Bond series. I get it.

[Trident]

You know, this article paints all the continuation novels and novelists as unsuccessful, but I seem to recall the first few Gardner books placed in Top 10 on the NYT bestseller list and I recall a lot of hype surrounding the release of License Renewed. Just saying.

Yes, I remember that too. Particularly the Saab connection that played a major role for hypeing up sales for FSS and IB in a similar way Bentley is involved now, only on a smaler scale.

Actually, I think it was Glidrose's own decision to 'cheapen' their property by publishing so many books in the 80's/90's. Now it looks as if they'd prefer to forget about the adventures of their 'bastardized child' during those years.

[Doctor Shatterhand]

Bond Girl:

First name: Poppy

Last name: Cock

Hmm, has potential.

[zencat]

Or Poppy Cox.

[K1Bond007]

And currently with Young Bond, which is a monster success in the UK.

But, that's ok. The WSJ take on this is it's a revival of the adult Bond series. I get it.

Not so good in the US though, but that's more of a marketing thing. That said, last night I stopped off at Barnes & Noble because I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd finally get a copy of the US DoD except it was sold out. SilverFin and Blood Fever had top shelf and were in stock.

[zencat]

You know, this article paints all the continuation novels and novelists as unsuccessful, but I seem to recall the first few Gardner books placed in Top 10 on the NYT bestseller list and I recall a lot of hype surrounding the release of License Renewed. Just saying.

One other thing. The article says TMWTRT sold a "disappointing" 5000 copies in the UK. What it doesn't say is only 5000 copies where ever printed in the UK.

But...back on topic.

Poppy. The Bond Girl's name is Poppy!

[Byron]

You know, this article paints all the continuation novels and novelists as unsuccessful, but I seem to recall the first few Gardner books placed in Top 10 on the NYT bestseller list and I recall a lot of hype surrounding the release of License Renewed. Just saying.

One other thing. The article says TMWTRT sold a "disappointing" 5000 copies in the UK. What it doesn't say is only 5000 copies where ever printed in the UK.

But...back on topic.

Poppy. The Bond Girl's name is Poppy!

The opium trade......let's see, which are the largest and most notorious opium producing regions around the world? The Golden Crescent in Central Asia (afghanistan) and the Golden Triangle (Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos). The latter has been operating since the 50;s while the former only since the 70's.

Possible locations in DMC? A jaunt through southeast asia for Bond?

[Loomis]

You know, this article paints all the continuation novels and novelists as unsuccessful, but I seem to recall the first few Gardner books placed in Top 10 on the NYT bestseller list and I recall a lot of hype surrounding the release of License Renewed. Just saying.

One other thing. The article says TMWTRT sold a "disappointing" 5000 copies in the UK. What it doesn't say is only 5000 copies where ever printed in the UK.

But...back on topic.

Poppy. The Bond Girl's name is Poppy!

The opium trade......let's see, which are the largest and most notorious opium producing regions around the world? The Golden Crescent in Central Asia (afghanistan) and the Golden Triangle (Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos). The latter has been operating since the 50;s while the former only since the 70's.

Possible locations in DMC? A jaunt through southeast asia for Bond?

Given that one of the book's locations is Paris, it may be that Bond does indeed pick up a trail to the former French Indochina.

Perhaps the main villain is a French plantation owner in southeast Asia, who has discovered a very lucrative crop for his workers to grow. I'm picturing a guy who's a bit like Belloq in RAIDERS, only, erm, a plantation owner in southeast Asia. He can also be Ren

[Syndicate]

With the haye of Devil May Care, do you all think there will be some kind of event happening at big chain book stores here in the U.S. or in the UK. Say like free James bond book mark, mini DMC ad poster and what ever else the publishers can dream up for the release of the release date of the book.

[Qwerty]

With the haye of Devil May Care, do you all think there will be some kind of event happening at big chain book stores here in the U.S. or in the UK. Say like free James bond book mark, mini DMC ad poster and what ever else the publishers can dream up for the release of the release date of the book.

It will be interesting to see what happens (if anything) in the US where Bond books--be it the more recent continuation novels or the Young Bond series--seem to be barely make a splash when first released in stores. They seem to almost always head right to their logical location on the bookshelf rather than be prominently displayed in front with other new releases.

Hoping Devil May Care really bucks this trend.

[Byron]

[quote name='Loomis' post='868801' date='9 May 2008 - 11:45'][quote name='Byron' post='868797' date='9 May 2008 - 12:09'][quote name='zencat' post='868645' date='8 May 2008 - 19:02'][quote name='zencat' post='868586' date='8 May 2008 - 08:58']You know, this article paints all the continuation novels and novelists as unsuccessful, but I seem to recall the first few Gardner books placed in Top 10 on the NYT bestseller list and I recall a lot of hype surrounding the release of License Renewed. Just saying.[/quote]
One other thing. The article says TMWTRT sold a "disappointing" 5000 copies in the UK. What it doesn't say is only 5000 copies where ever printed in the UK.

But...back on topic.

Poppy. The Bond Girl's name is Poppy!
[/quote]

The opium trade......let's see, which are the largest and most notorious opium producing regions around the world? The Golden Crescent in Central Asia (afghanistan) and the Golden Triangle (Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos). The latter has been operating since the 50;s while the former only since the 70's.

Possible locations in DMC? A jaunt through southeast asia for Bond?
[/quote]

Given that one of the book's locations is Paris, it may be that Bond does indeed pick up a trail to the former French Indochina.

Perhaps the main villain is a French plantation owner in southeast Asia, who has discovered a very lucrative crop for his workers to grow. I'm picturing a guy who's a bit like Belloq in RAIDERS, only, erm, a plantation owner in southeast Asia. He can also be Ren