Bestselling Authors Brad Meltzer, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child Partner for eBook Promotion

(Press Release) NEW YORK, NY, January 7, 2011—Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, announced an entirely original form of eBook collaboration today with bestselling powerhouses Brad Meltzer, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. The bonus eBook edition of Meltzer's new novel THE INNER CIRCLE (January 11, 2011; ISBN: 9780446582636; $12.99) will feature a complimentary backlist novel from Preston and Child in the same eBook package; correspondingly the bonus eBook edition of Preston and Child's new novel GIDEON'S SWORD (February 22, 2011; ISBN: 9780446564335; $12.99) will also include a complimentary backlist title from Meltzer.

Brad Meltzer's The Inner Circle bonus edition eBook will include Preston and Child's 2002 novel The Cabinet of Curiosities. Preston and Child's Gideon's Sword will include Brad Meltzer's 2005 novel The Zero Game.

Grand Central Publishing developed the promotional partnership with the Hachette Digital team as a unique way to enrich the digital reading experience. Meltzer's editor and Executive Vice President, Hachette Book Group, and Grand Central Publisher Jamie Raab says, "This is a unique opportunity to spotlight three of our favorite authors simultaneously, and, at the same time, offer eBook readers a bonus that is incredibly appealing. I am thrilled that Brad Meltzer, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are collaborating in such a creative way."

The authors are equally enthusiastic. Preston and Child say: "We have long wanted to do something special for our loyal e-book readers. Now we've found a way." They are big fans of Meltzer as well: "He is one of the most exciting, brilliant, and original thriller writers working today."

The idea percolated from a simple email. Explains Meltzer, "Doug and Lincoln emailed me and asked. They thought it would be a great way for us to thank readers while also giving them something new to read."

Both Preston and Child and Meltzer are already quite engaged in the digital landscape, so the collaboration is a natural fit. Meltzer has been active on Twitter since its inception and is a vocal champion of eBooks. Preston and Child jump started their digital presence by doing a serial "vlog" of video interviews on their website entitled "Summer Fridays With Preston and Child" in July 2010, and Douglas Preston recently began blogging at the Huffington Post.