Here's an unusual way to boost sales: Have the publisher withdraw a novel because it contained passages lifted from other authors.
A day after Q.R. Markham's "Assassin of Secrets" was pulled by Little, Brown and Company, readers are apparently hurrying to snap up remaining copies. The book's ranking jumped on Amazon.com from 62,924 on Tuesday afternoon to 174 on Wednesday afternoon, making it the online retailer's No. 2 "Mover & Shaker."
Publisher pulls debut novel after alleged plagiarism
The book was released Nov. 3 with an initial printing of 6,500, but within days Little, Brown learned that Markham had lifted material from James Bond novels and numerous other sources. A planned second book from Markham also has been cancelled.
Markham's real name is Quentin Rowan, a 35-year-old resident of Brooklyn and an investor in the Brooklyn-based Spoonbill & Sugartown Booksellers.
Book award nominee withdraws after 'painful error'
Markham and his agent, David Peak of Vigliano Associates, haven't returned phone messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.