Subject: 50 Shades Of Grey pre-orders top bestseller lists

Pre-orders of E L James’ new Fifty Shades of Grey novel, Grey (Arrow), have leapt to the top of retailers' bestseller charts in both physical and digital formats.

The novel, which will be released on 18th June, will tell the story of Fifty Shades of Grey from the point of view of Christian Grey.

James announced the book on 1st June, just over two weeks before the release of the novel.

UK retailers are now taking pre-orders for Grey, the paperback of which has an r.r.p. of £7.99.

Waterstones has a large banner on its homepage offering the new book for £3.99. Melissa Cox, head of books at Waterstones, said initial interest had been “exceptionally promising”.

Amazon is also selling the paperback for £3.99, and the Kindle edition for £3.79. On Amazon the book is number one in the bestseller charts in both physical and digital formats.

Kobo is selling the e-book of Grey for £5.49. It is currently number one in Kobo’s fiction chart.

Arrow, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK’s Cornerstone division, said the print run for Grey would be “very significant”.

“This is a logistical feat with supporting point of sale, for example dumpbins, also being printed,” said Charlotte Bush, director of publicity and media relations at Cornerstone. “At present the entire publishing team is working to ensure customers are supplied efficiently.”

Bush said Cornerstone also expected a “strong digital sale”.

The US publisher of Grey, Vintage, a division of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, said it had ordered a 1.25m copy first print run. The publisher has also reserved press time, Paul Bogaards, executive director of publicity, promotion and media relations at Knopf Doubleday, told Publishers Weekly.

Retailers have told The Bookseller they welcome a new title in the Fifty Shades of Grey series but have mixed opinions on how well a fourth book will sell.

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/grey-pre-orders-top-bestseller-lists