Beaufort Books Rushes Release of The Jewel of...

With its release in suspended animation in the UK, The Jewel of Medina is being rushed to shelves in the United States by publisher Beaufort Books.

The UK publishing house Gibson Square was set on fire last weekend, allegedly in opposition to its previously expected October release of Jewel. Martin Rynja of Gibson Square is currently under police protection after the arrest of four suspects in connection with setting the fire.

Eric Kampmann, president of Beaufort Books, hopes that advancing the publication will "reduce or eliminate any chance of violence," and that once people actually read the book, their focus will turn to the story and the author, Sherry Jones.

The Jewel of Medina will be in U.S. bookstores on Monday, October 6, 2008.

More about the book

More about the Gibson Square incident

Comments: 13

Jennifer R. Oct 3, 2008, 4:50pm EDT

I remember your first review. I can't wait to read it. Nothing like some good hype to get you some publicity.

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Diana Raabe Oct 3, 2008, 5:02pm EDT

Many are speculating that Beaufort is capitalizing on the hype rather than trying to reduce violence; neither the U.S. publisher nor the author have received any threats. However, there have been threats in Serbia, in addition to the firebombing in the UK, that are have been linked to the publication of this book.

It would be a giant step backward to see the book not published due to threats, real or perceived. If it's simply not a good book, that would be another story altogether.

Personal Disclaimer: I have not read it.

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Diana Raabe Oct 3, 2008, 5:24pm EDT

Sherry Jones on YouTube

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Patricia J. Oct 3, 2008, 5:29pm EDT

Sounds very much like hype to get the book read.

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Netty B. Oct 3, 2008, 5:34pm EDT

should get lots of publicity

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Liz [site-raven] Oct 3, 2008, 9:38pm EDT

Oh my..........hm just went to your blog.

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Christine Zibas Oct 4, 2008, 4:34pm EDT

Readers and writers and publishing houses must not cave to intimidation. If for no other reason than that, I have purchased Salman Rushdie's books. His writing is wonderful of course, but I think he has sacrificed a lot of personal freedom to produce his work.

I'll look forward to reading this new book too.

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Christine Zibas Oct 4, 2008, 4:35pm EDT

Fitting that it is coming out amongst all the support for banned books.

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Christine Zibas Oct 4, 2008, 4:35pm EDT

Thanks for posting your article to the Gather group, Bookin'.

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Kathryn E. Oct 11, 2008, 5:14pm EDT

oooh I will look for it.

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Laura Serena aka AstroGirl Oct 14, 2008, 4:08pm EDT

Interesting. I read one of your links about the book. I hope the author stays safe. Salman Rushdie's experience with the fatwa comes unfortunately to mind.

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John F Walter Oct 15, 2008, 5:49pm EDT

Any time people publish fictional works about a defensive culture with no tradition of self-criticism, you are going to get results like this: the fatwa on Rushdie, the murder of Van Gogh, a public burning. If hundreds of millions of Muslims are going to live peaceably in secular society, they are going to have to accept that free speech has a critical component. That´s the deal. You live in a post-industrial secular culture which tolerates you and your religion and culture, you have to learn to tolerate those with ideas different than yours. Islam is changing in the West, but at a snail´s pace compared to what observers expect. However, much more rapidly than it will change in the lands conquered by those who followed the Prophet.

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Beaufort Books Rushes Release of The Jewel of Medina

Comments: 13

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