Speaking of Oprah's influence—though The Pathway: Follow the Road to Health and Happiness was published by Regan Books last January, it's just now debuting on our nonfiction list. The reason? You guessed it: a one-hour appearance (June 16) by author Laurel Mellin on Ms. Winfrey's talk show—cum-bookfest. The author followed up that gig with a radio satellite tour and continued media in the San Francisco Bay area. Other publicity hits include The Early Show, back in February; TV and radio interviews; Bay Area signings in March; and mentions in Oprah and Shape magazines. Prominent in the ongoing marketing campaign are in-store easelback displays for both The Pathway and Mellin's 1997 title, The Solution: 6 Winning Ways to Permanent Weight Loss. In addition, an online initiative is being launched to addiction/recovery sites and mailings were done to counselors and spiritual leaders. Regan Books reports 75,000 copies in print after five printings.

With reporting by Dick Donahue