HS'd Author Christopher Paolini announces Third Book; Eragon, Eldest Author!

Teachers@Random
January 16, 2008
News Flash!

TITLE AND COVER FOR BOOK THREE IN CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI’S #1 BESTSELLING INHERITANCE CYCLE

BOOK THREE IN THE INHERITANCE CYCLE WILL HAVE A FIRST PRINTING OF 2.5 MILLION COPIES

New York, NY (January 16, 2008)—Following the #1 bestselling novels Eragon and Eldest, the third book in Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance cycle will be titled BRISINGR, it was announced today by Nancy Hinkel, Publishing Director of Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. BRISINGR (BRIS-ing-gr), an Old Norse word for fire, will be familiar to fans of the cycle as the first word in the ancient language that Eragon hears. The jacket for BRISINGR has been illustrated by the renowned John Jude Palencar, illustrator of both the Eragon and Eldest covers.

“BRISINGR is one of the first words I thought of for this title, and it’s always felt right to me,” said Christopher Paolini. “As the first ancient-language word that Eragon learns, it has held particular significance for his legacy as a Dragon Rider. In this new book, it will be revealed to be even more meaningful than even Eragon could have known.”

BRISINGR will have a first printing of 2.5 million copies, the largest initial run ever for a Random House Children’s Books title. Originally slated for release on September 23, 2008, the book will now go on sale at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Hinkel explains, “After the initial announcement of Book Three’s release, we received an outpouring of requests from booksellers hoping to host midnight launch parties. We have responded to their enthusiasm by advancing the date, and we know fans will welcome the opportunity to celebrate the publication together.”

BRISINGR will be published simultaneously in the United States as an audiobook by Random House’s Listening Library division. Michelle Frey, Executive Editor with Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, who worked with Paolini on Eragon and Eldest, is the editor of BRISINGR.

Both #1 New York Times bestsellers in the United States, Eragon and Eldest have also been international sensations. To date there are 50 foreign-language licenses for Eragon alone, and together Eragon and Eldest have sold 12.5 million copies worldwide. In its first week on sale in North America in August 2005, Eldest sold more than 425,000 hardcover copies, making Eldest the greatest single-week sale ever recorded for a Random House Children’s Books title—hardcover or paperback—and the fastest-selling title in the publisher’s history.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers is an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Random House, Inc., whose parent company is Bertelsmann AG, a leading international media company.