NPR to Run Exclusive Pre-Pub Reading with Toni Morrison

By Lynn Andriani -- Publishers Weekly, 10/23/2008 8:15:00 AM

Pulitzer-winning author Toni Morrison will unveil her highly anticipated ninth novel, A Mercy, on NPR.org’s Book Tour in a pre-publication reading October 27, 28, 29 and 30. Knopf will release the book in hardcover on November 11 with a 215,000-copy first printing. The four-day serialization will also present NPR arts correspondent Lynn Neary discussing the book with Morrison, and the audio will be available as streaming audio, podcast or download on NPR.org. Additionally, Michele Norris, host of All Things Considered, will interview Morrison about A Mercy. At the end of the entire serialization, Morrison will participate in a web chat on NPR.org that will run sometime during the week of November 17.

Over the four days, Morrison will read the first 30 pages of the 176-page novel, which PW, in a starred review, said "takes hold of the reader and doesn’t let go until the wrenching final-page crescendo." Paul Bogaards of Knopf said the house chose to debut Morrison's novel on NPR because it is an oral medium. "Toni is one of the most effective presenters of her work in the world. People are held breathless at her readings." Bogaards said the timing was right for an NPR serialization, too, since so many listeners are tuning in during the run-up to the presidential election. "Publishers, as owners of content, are always looking for homes that deliver significant audiences, and we know that the NPR audience is significant and buys books." Knopf worked out an arrangement with NPR to run banner ads on NPR affiliates’ websites promoting the serialization.

Bogaards said the serialization is "something we couldn’t really do at Random House because we don’t have the traffic on our site." It doesn't hurt either that NPR says more than 81% of its fans identify themselves as book enthusiasts.