Bloomsbury Gets Hot for Steamy Mosley Novel

by Lynn Andriani, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 2/14/2007

Walter Mosley's first attempt at writing graphically about sex in his fiction was a risk not only for him but also for his publisher, Bloomsbury. And though the book, Killing Johnny Fry, has received mixed reviews, it's selling briskly: since the December 26 publication, Bloomsbury has moved 30,000 copies and gone back to press three times.

PW's review called Johnny Fry "deep erotica"; while the author refers to it as "sexistential," since it explores the existential tailspin of a middle-aged black man after catching his girlfriend in the act with another man. Mosley has been reading excerpts (including the racy bits) in front of audiences of 200 and more at events, and libraries have reported high demand for the book (all 100 copies were checked out at the Philadelphia Free Library as of two weeks ago). The book has also received strong support from booksellers; Bloomsbury publicity director Maya Baran said many of them have sent in unsolicited comments praising the book.