Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with...

For discussion of John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel Människohamn
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CyberGhostface
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Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with...

Post by CyberGhostface » Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:39 pm

...the Stephen King references?

Top of the jacket, quote about Lindqvist being the Swedish answer to Stephen King.

Inner jacket, description of the book refers Lindqvist is the heir apparent to Stephen King.

Author flap, quote from King praising Let Me In.

Back cover, four of the eight critic blurbs all compare Lindqvist to Stephen King in some capacity.

I mean, I think Lindqvist is a great author and deserves to be held up to King, but seven references is milking it.
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by Nightrider » Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:12 pm

It seems like that the publisher is not sure how to market JAL, so they resort to the 'ol tried and true move "If you liked King, surely you'll like Lindquist".
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by Bustedstuff15 » Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:02 am

Yea it annoyed me actually. JAL deserves to be held on his own pedestal
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by a_contemplative_life » Mon Oct 24, 2011 1:36 am

Would it make sense to compare him to other Swedish horror writers?

Are there other Swedish horror writers? :?:
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by Nightrider » Mon Oct 24, 2011 3:22 pm

a_contemplative_life wrote:Would it make sense to compare him to other Swedish horror writers?
It would...possibly.
However, if you want to successfully push your book in US the only name that translates into big sales is Stephen King.
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by Wolfchild » Tue Nov 01, 2011 12:53 am

Nightrider wrote:
a_contemplative_life wrote:Would it make sense to compare him to other Swedish horror writers?
It would...possibly.
However, if you want to successfully push your book in US the only name that translates into big sales is Stephen King.
Agreed. Other than a web forum of potentially disturbed individuals, JAL does not really have a lot of name recognition in the US. I doubt you will ever hear JAL compare himself to Stephen King, but if Stephen King's name helps more people find their way to him, I'm all for it.

A thread about publishers not understanding who JAL is and how to market him is the perfect companion thread to the one complaining about how many of the international book cover images poorly represent his works. At least we are consistent. :lol:
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by drakkar » Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:40 am

Nightrider wrote:It seems like that the publisher is not sure how to market JAL, so they resort to the 'ol tried and true move "If you liked King, surely you'll like Lindquist".
Sounds reasonable. I for example, don't regard JAL a horror writer, in fact I don't like horror at all. I regard him a master storyteller and portrayer of society. In surprisingly few sentences that man can flesh out a character so you think you know him personally. That's what I'm reading.
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by lombano » Wed Nov 02, 2011 4:45 pm

I've read only one thing by King and wasn't impressed. Actually without the film I would've never discovered JAL, as the non-Swedish covers and so forth mostly don't appeal to me, either.
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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by Luftwaffles » Wed Nov 02, 2011 5:04 pm

If I was an author, I would make sure that they only compared me to inanimate objects.

"IF YOU LIKE CHAIRS YOU'LL LOVE THIS!" -NY Times

or

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Re: Anyone else think that the publisher went overboard with

Post by Bustedstuff15 » Sun Nov 20, 2011 3:08 am

Luftwaffles wrote:If I was an author, I would make sure that they only compared me to inanimate objects.

"IF YOU LIKE CHAIRS YOU'LL LOVE THIS!" -NY Times

or

"Easier to read than a mole on your shoulder." -Life

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