The Highfield Mole
Two weeks ago, I attended Book Expo America in New York where I met dozens of self-published authors - all of whom wanted to sell some copies of their one book. The event probably attracted hundreds of these authors over three days but most of them will never see their book receive major exposure.
However, it appears that a very rare example of a self-published book that makes it to the big time is about to happen. I’m talking about Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams. It’s re-published on 3 July by Chicken House after being signed by Barry Cunningham, the man who signed JK Rowling to Bloomsbury. Naturally, everyone is calling it the next Harry Potter as it’s a children’s adventure book.
Tunnels was originally published in 2005 by the co-authors under the title, The Highfield Mole, but it appears that only one bookshop in Norfolk was selling it. It sold out very quickly and those original copies, especially the hardcover versions, are worth decent sums of money - see these listings on AbeBooks.
Yesterday, AbeBooks sold a copy for $1180 - clearly someone thinks Tunnels will take off and actually become the next Potter-style publishing sensation, and that the value of these rare original copies of The Highfield Mole will rise and rise. Today, copies have been selling as soon as booksellers posted them to the site.
Williams and Gordon are obviously rather better equipped than most self-published authors - here’s the Highfield Mole’s authors’ website and they’ve also been using a PR company.
Also Tunnels is already No. 12 on the bestseller list of majorsouthamericanriver.co.uk (You know the one) on pre-orders alone.
So is a copy of The Highfield Mole for $1,000 worth a punt?
