Celebrating Fathers

It may be the perfect Father's Day gift. We're referring to the latest bestseller from Miramax Books, Big Russ & Me: Father and Son: Lessons of Life by Meet the Press anchor Tim Russert. First printing was 260,000 copies; the second before publication (May 10) was 40,000; third on publication was 50,000; and, less than a week after publication, a fourth printing of 50,000 was ordered. That makes for a hefty 400,000 copies in print. Russert's sales speed can be attributed to a fellow broadcaster; Don Imus began talking up his book weeks before publication ("This book is beyond great... unbelievable" and other repeated raves). Miramax reported that Imus's comments began generating numerous preorders with online retailers, so the house thought it would be appropriate to kick off the book with an appearance on Imus in the Morning. There was also huge NBC support, including a Dateline visit that took Russert to his hometown, Buffalo, N.Y., and a one-hour Larry King conversation. Russert is on the road until Father's Day, making about 24 stops nationwide. His first, in Buffalo, was a success; he signed more than 2,000 books—many of them at the American Legion post where Big Russ hosted a homecoming/publication party for his son.