Flush with Success

Novelist, poet and sports journalist James McManus hit the jackpot with his new book, Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker. Publisher Farrar, Straus & Giroux began with an initial printing of 37,000 copies, and within two weeks of the April 14 pub date had gone back to press twice, bringing the total to 75,000. McManus's publicity tour—which goes through June 3—launched in Las Vegas at the World Poker Tour, a nationally televised tournament held at the Bellagio hotel; he placed 49th. He will return to the gambling capital for the World Series of Poker at Binion's Horseshoe Casino the week of May 18, where he will combine card playing with book publicity; ESPN will cover the tournament. The book's royal flush and entry into bestseller stakes were its glowing reviews, beginning with a starred one in PW that noted: "The drama of high-stakes poker is inherently compelling—here is a rare opportunity to read an account by someone who can really write." FSG views the book as a "terrific" Father's Day gift and is planning to continue publicity and ad campaigns through June 15.