Forecast: Favorable Wind
by Daisy Maryles -- Publishers Weekly, 7/23/2001
E. Lynn Harris's previous novel, Not a Day Goes By, spent nine weeks on PW's list last summer (two of those at #1); at its close, a Broadway diva was left hanging at the altar. In the author's newest opus, Any Way the Wind Blows, our heroine hits the Billboard charts with a tune about getting jilted—cleverly titled "Any Way the Wind Blows." In an equally clever promotional stunt, Doubleday produced 15,000 limited-edition CD singles containing the "hit" song, which was written by Harris's friend, composer Bobby Daye. In addition to sending these to booksellers and radio personalities, the publisher's been doing giveaways at special events around the country. Harris kicked off a 20-city tour on July 10, the on-sale date, when more than 600 fans turned out for two New York City signings. People named the novel—Harris's fifth to hit our lists—one of its Beach Reads of the Week; other print coverage has included Essence, Savoy, USA Today and, still to come, New York and Entertainment Weekly. (Also, Harris will be the subject of next week's PW Interview.) Doubleday reports 255,000 copies in print after three trips to press.
With reporting by Dick Donahue.
