Jackson Biography: An Example of Speed Publishing in China

By Gu Yubao

Michael Jackson passed away on June 26, 2009. “A Biography of Jackson: Moon Walk in Paradise” was available in Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore in Beijing on July 3rd. It was the first book about Jackson published in China after the death of the superstar hit the world. It was probably the worlds first biography on the rock & roll star after he passed away. It was published by Modern Press, a small Chinese publisher.

The following story relates how it was done.

On the afternoon of June 26, the editor-in-chief Zang Yongqing of the Modern Press telephoned Jiang Xiaoyu and Xing Han, asking if they could write a book on the life and art of Michael Jackson within two days. If they could meet the deadline, the press wanted to publish it within the shortest time possible. Jiang, a director, and Xing, a poet, said without hesitation that they could do the stunt within two days. Zang also asked his team if the book could be printed and put on for sales within a week. The press would go forward with the book if the team could get it published within a week. Otherwise he would call it off. He got yes to his enquiries and the business was on.

Jiang and Xing are fans of Michael Jackson. Jiang used to be a music critic. The two had known a great deal about the superstar. For two days and two nights, the two kept writing on their computers. They didnt sleep. They knew there were no revolutionary things in the book. They were putting together what they knew about the music phenomenon. They wrote 13 chapters in about 130,000 Chinese characters. It relates Jacksons life, art, and the times in which he starred. According to the publisher, it is more than a biography; it is also about history and ideas.

The executive editor got the sample copy on June 30. It was put on presale on the Internet on July 1. Two days later, the book was available at Wangfujing Xinhua Bookstore. 30,000 copies have been printed since then. For the sake of reference, 10,000 copies are a success for such a speed book.

This is not the only case of successful speed publishing in China. When the killer earthquake hit Wenchuan, Sichuan Province in southwestern China on May 12, 2008, a Chinese publisher got a book on the earthquake out within 12 hours. Many publishers have journalists and writers prepared for such a sudden market demand for books on latest eye-catching events and people. Thats how books get written so fast. For some publishers, that is a way for survival. Books that take 15 days or 30 days after the event to come out will very probably find a lukewarm market. Speediest books grab the attention of readers.

It is said that more than 10 domestic publishers are planning to publish books on Jackson. These books, it is believed, will not be different in nature from the one published by Modern Press on July 3rd. After all, none of these writers had interviewed Michael Jackson. The things they are going to write about the superstar come from their individual databanks.

Overseas publishers are more cautious. Some books on Jackson came out in August, nearly two months after the demise of the superstar. Some will come out in October. By then, the first wave of books on Jackson is already at the tail end on Chinas book market. □