How Gail Rebuck turned Tony Blair's book into a bestseller
The boss of Random House on the former prime minister's memoirs

Jane Martinson The Guardian, Monday 13 September 2010

Gail Rebuck, the chief executive of Random House. Photograph: Linda Nylind for the Guardian

How did she do it?
How did Gail Rebuck, the head of Random House, turn a title that languished in the Amazon pre-order list into a record-breaking sales success in its first few days in print? Tony Blair's autobiography, A Journey, last week became the fastest-selling memoir ever, and all in spite of being moved to the crime or fiction sections of bookshops by opponents of the former prime minister, and without the usual lucrative serialisation deal with a national newspaper.

One of the most powerful women in publishing, with a network that connects politics, media and business, Rebuck credits Blair himself for the book's largely unexpected success to date – A Journey sold 92,060 copies in its first four days on sale, the best ever opening sale for an autobiography since records began in 1998.

"He broke the mould … he wanted it be human, honest and he wanted people to engage with it in a very different way," she says of the book that lays into Gordon Brown and talks of Cherie's love. "He bypasses the criticism in the press to get to the people."

In spite of its sales success, Blair's message has not been universally welcomed. He was forced to call off a London book signing and launch party last week amid security fears caused by anti-war campaigners. Rebuck, the chairman and chief executive of Random House, points out that fans still queued outside the bookshop to buy pre-signed copies. "People have a right to protest. At the same time a three-times elected prime minister has a right to sign his memoirs, the proceeds of which are going to charity."

After a long career in publishing and marriage to Blair's favourite strategist, Phillip Gould, Rebuck, 58, still seems a little put out by some of the stuff written about last week's chart-topper – one of six Random House titles in the top 10. Of the suggestion that Blair's decision to donate his share of the book's proceeds to the British Legion would help his sales and reputation, she says: "I don't know why people don't take it at face value. It's an extraordinarily generous gesture."
The full piece at The Guardian.