Barnes & Noble exclusive editions give the struggling company an advantage
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Molly Driscoll Staff writer
What does Barnes & Noble have that Amazon 诲辞别蝉苍鈥檛?
When it comes to young adult and tween novels, B&N is in possession of exclusive content from authors like John Green, Veronica Roth, and Cassandra Clare.聽
The bookstore chain began its 鈥渆xclusive edition鈥� program several years ago but has recently experienced a great amount of success with the publication of special editions of such works as 鈥淭he Fault in Our Stars鈥� by Green, which B&N released with new content that included a new book cover and a question-and-answer session with Green, among other new material. According to B&N teen book buyer Brian Monahan, 鈥淔ault鈥� has performed the best of any exclusive edition that the company has released.
鈥淸It] catapulted the program into the next stratosphere,鈥� he told .
B&N just released a new edition of Green鈥檚 novel 鈥淟ooking for Alaska,鈥� which was originally published in 2005. Other books that have received the treatment include 鈥淲onder鈥� by R.J. Palacio, 鈥淎llegiant鈥� by Veronica Roth, and 鈥淐lockwork Prince鈥� by Cassandra Clare.
While the new material in an exclusive edition can include Q&As like the one with Green, authors will sometimes supply work set in their fictional world to B&N for inclusion. For example, 鈥淐lockwork鈥� includes a never-before-seen letter from one male character, Will, to his love interest, Tessa, and 鈥淎llegiant鈥� has journal entries written by protagonist Tris鈥檚 mother. New content could attract fans of the books.
Mary Amicucci, B&N vice-president of children鈥檚 books, says publishers have been enthusiastic about the idea and that the company has received unsolicited ideas for exclusive editions.
鈥淓verybody has seen it as an incremental opportunity,鈥� Amicucci told PW. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not cannibalistic.鈥�
