The Bookseller reports that Hodder is making a concerted effort to focus more attention upon its paperbacks, and to that end, has appointed former Hodder marketing director Auriol Bishop to the newly-created role of paperback publishing director, also expanding its mass market sales and publicity personnel. The new paperback fiction team will focus its marketing efforts on one or two brand name authors a month (so in January, Jodi Picoult & Stephen King) to "create a much bigger splash", Bishop said. The aim is a 25% boost in sales for top authors. "We want the biggest consumer impact on publication," she said.

After the initial splash, attention will then be focused on Cody McFadyen's SHADOW MAN in February; Peter Robinson's PIECE OF MY HEART in March; and John Connolly's THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS in April. Other authors who will enjoy extra marketing spend in 2007 include Jeffery Deaver, Elizabeth George and Mandasue Heller.