Booksellers Relieved O.J. Book Is Quashed

by Rachel Deahl with reporting by Claire Kirch, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 11/21/2006

Independent booksellers expressed relief and appreciation at the announcement that News Corp. had canceled O.J. Simpson's book If I Did It. The hypothetical confession—accompanied by a two-part Fox TV interview—was scheduled be published by HarperCollins imprint Regan Books.

HarperCollins, a subsidiary of News Corp., reportedly went to press for 300,000 copies. Now any books that have already shipped will be recalled and, said an executive at HarperCollins, all copies "will be destroyed."

Roberta Rubin, owner of the Bookstall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka, Ill., said the news was both "fantastic" and a relief. "We didn't want to be put in a spot, and now we won't be," she said, explaining that selling the book would have caused her discomfort. She added that canceling the book "gives some integrity to the book business once again."

A Wisconsin bookseller who asked not to be named said she was particularly pleased because the cancellation spared her from going through the ordering process. Simpson's book—like the recent title from HarperCollins imprint William Morrow about Princess Diana, The Way We Were (PW Daily, Sept. 6)—was sold to booksellers blind, with sales reps not revealing the author or contents of the book. "I was going to be really ticked if I'd ordered [Simpson's] book blind," the Wisconsin bookseller said. "I told myself I never was going to order an embargoed book again."

Carla Cohen, co-owner of the Washington, D.C., bookstore Politics & Prose, said she was "astounded" at the reversal. Cohen, who had opted not to sell the book, said she was still "surprised" that the book is being canceled.

While booksellers generally were pleased with News Corp.'s decision, many in the publishing industry are wondering what it will mean for Regan Books publisher Judith Regan. Robert Gottlieb, chairman of Trident Media Group, said "it's hard to say" what impact this turn of events will have on Regan's reputation and career. Gottlieb said that whatever happens, Regan's track record can't be overlooked. "Judith has brought in a lot of money through her imprint and is a major publishing player for News Corp., and has to be given her due for all her success. I do think it was poor judgment to publish a book of this nature, though, and I'm glad that it's coming to a swift conclusion."

When asked if he thought the cancellation of this book would have any effect on Regan Books' future acquisitions, Gottlieb said he thinks it's doubtful. Regan Books, he said, "will continue to push the boundaries as they always have."