Series Business
by Daisy Maryles -- Publishers Weekly, 2/14/2005
Bernard Cornwell doesn't stand alone. With four international bestselling series to his credit, this British-born historical novelist has launched a new one with The Last Kingdom, published by HarperCollins February 1 (copies in print: 79,000). Thanks to its Masterpiece Theatre exposure, Cornwell's best-known series is the mammoth saga—20 volumes and counting—centering on Richard Sharpe, soldier extraordinaire of the Napoleonic Wars. (Other series have been set during the American Civil War, the Hundred Years War and in Arthurian England.) HC publicity director Jennifer Swihart credits Kingdom's success to "a comprehensive marketing plan. We targeted fans and new readers ( 'Make The Last Kingdom your first Cornwell') and sent out abundant ARCs." (For more on Cornwell, see this week's PW Interview, p. 49.)
