With JK Rowling at least temporarily off the book scene, book sellers are hoping someone can spark some excitment and fill at least part of the gaping void. I've noticed a huge promotional buildup at Borders and other bookstores to Saturday's release of Stephanie Meyer's "Breaking Dawn", the fourth and final installment in her "Twilight" vampire saga that appeals mainly to teens. And in Harry Potter fashion, book stores across the country held midnight release parties, with hundreds of thousands of Meyer fans lining up for the 12:01am August 2nd release.
According to USA Today, the Hachett Book Group, publisher of "Breaking Dawn", estimates 1.3 million copies were sold on day one. Fans swarmed some 1500 book stores for the release parties, including 2,000 who joined the author at the Nokia Theatre in New York City Friday evening. For a comparison, JK Rowling moved 8.3 million "Deathly Hallows" books on the first day her final Harry Potter book was available.
Borders says the first-day "Breaking Dawn" sales total at their stores was nearly 10 times what the retailer's first-day sales were for "Eclipse," the third book in the series.
