Starbucks Selects Fiction with a Unique Voice for Next Book
Starbucks to feature emerging author Garth Stein’s “The Art of Racing in the Rain”
a captivating novel that explores the wonders and absurdities of human life. . .
as only a dog could tell it
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SEATTLE, April 24, 2008 – Starbucks announced today the next title in its book program: The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein – to published by Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers – a highly original, surprisingly moving novel of redemption narrated in the opinionated and insightful voice of an extraordinary dog, Enzo. Starting on May 13, 2008, the book will be offered at more than 7,000 Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) company-operated locations across the U.S. The Art of Racing in the Rain is the company’s first fiction selection by an emerging author.
“Following two incredible, gripping memoirs we are excited to offer our customers a fun, captivating story that showcases the creativity and talent of an emerging author,” said Nikkole Denson, director of business development/Entertainment Starbucks. “We believe The Art of Racing in the Rain will delight the millions of customers who visit our stores and is a must read for everyone.”
An imaginative and emotional tale of life and love from a creative and unorthodox point of view, The Art of Racing in the Rain tells the story of the Swift family, as seen by their faithful dog, Enzo. On the eve of his death, Enzo recalls all that the family has been through: the sacrifices his master, Denny Swift, an up-and-coming race car driver, has made to succeed; the unexpected loss of Eve, Denny’s wife; the three-year custody battle over their daughter, Zoe, whose maternal grandparents pulled every string to gain guardianship. The Art of Racing in the Rain is the third novel from Stein, a former documentary filmmaker who lives in Seattle.
“Having my book selected by Starbucks means a tremendous amount to me, not simply because we share the hometown of Seattle,” said Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain. “The Starbucks coffeehouse spirit is what reading and writing is all about: a haven where ideas are created, exchanged, and debated. It's taking an incredibly intimate experience and making it communal, which is what every writer hopes to do with his work. I am grateful to have the opportunity to connect with Starbucks customers in this way.”
“We're thrilled to have Starbucks introducing readers to this very special book,” said Jonathan Burnham, Sr. Vice President and Publisher of Harper. “The response we've had from early readers has been phenomenal, and the Starbucks selection confirms what we've felt about the novel from the very beginning: it's a one of a kind read. This wise canine’s perspective offers, ironically enough, a deeper understanding of what it means to be human.”
The book launches at traditional book retailers across the U.S. beginning May 13 with a celebration at a Seattle area Starbucks in Madison Park (4000 East Madison). Stein will participate in a west coast Starbucks book tour in Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles. Along with appearances at traditional booksellers, Stein’s tour will continue through June in Boston, Cincinnati, Denver, Lexington, Miami, New York, Raleigh and San Francisco.
About Starbucks
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest quality Arabica coffee in the world. Today, with nearly 16,000 stores and more than 170,000 partners (employees) in 44 countries, Starbucks is the premiere roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.com.
About HarperCollins
HarperCollins is one of the leading English-language publishers in the world
and is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV).
Headquartered in New York, the company has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. Its publishing groups include the HarperCollins
General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan,
HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and
HarperCollins India. You can visit HarperCollins Publishers on the
Internet at http://www.harpercollins.com.
Garth Stein is the author of two novels, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, winner of a 2006 PNBA Book Award, and Raven Stole the Moon; he has also written a full-length play, Brother Jones. He worked as a documentary filmmaker for several years, co-producing The Last Party, starring Robert Downey, Jr. In addition, he has directed and/or produced several other films, including When Your Head’s Not a Head, It’s a Nut, which aired nationally on PBS and was awarded a gold medal by the International Epilepsy Foundation. Garth teaches fiction to writers from second grade to adult. He makes his home in Seattle with his wife, three sons, and his dog, Comet.
For Starbucks, contact:
Doug Cavarocchi
Starbucks Entertainment
206-318-7100
For Harper, contact:
Leslie Cohen
Director of Publicity
Harper
212-207-7490
leslie.cohen@harpercollins.com