How a saga more than 40 years old has now become a viral hit. The magic behind Blackwater that made Stephen King fall in love with

In just six weeks on sale, this book series has become a success capable of amassing more than 50,000 copies sold and generate long queues during the last Sant Jordi book signing. But the most surprising thing about Blackwater by Michael McDowell is that it is a book series that was first released more than 40 years ago.

With a story that mixes southern customs with fantastic touches while recounting the future of the Caskey family, the publisher Blackie Books recovered a work forgotten in time to bring it back with a format similar to that used when it was marketed. Blackwater for the first time in 1983. By volumes that arrive in stores every fifteen days.

Blackwater’s secret to success

Just as our colleagues from Xataka when speaking with Jan Martí, editor of Blackie Booksmuch of the success of Blackwater It is precisely in that play. In a staggered release in which every two weeks, unlike one delivery a month as originally done, a new installment of the six that make up the novel hits stores. In this way, noise is generated among the reading groups that follow the story and, as if it were a television series, they help make the proposal viral.

The idea would be of no use if it weren’t for the fact that we are facing one of those texts that, because it is surprising, intriguing, and thanks to a very accessible reading for all types of audiences and fans, has made a name for itself among fantasy fans after winning the respect of several renowned authors such as a Stephen King who idolized the proposal.

“Michael McDowell: my friend, my teacher. Fascinating, terrifying, simply brilliant. The best of us all.”

However, it would be crazy to stop there when the saturation of sagas and books capable of embracing a similar appreciation by the public are counted in dozens on the shelves. There is another detail that has helped even more Blackwater when it comes to reaching the place it occupies today among the most sought-after novelties in bookstores. How much it enters through the eyes.

That Pedro Oyarbide, the artist behind the covers of this new edition, was among those who generated the most queues https://twitter.com/BlackieBooks/status/1782716963598332131 it’s not by chance. The striking thing about this edition is, as in several of Blackie Books’ proposals, it manages to completely distance itself from the style of usual novels.

It is one of those cases in which, for its originality in aesthetics, it is inevitable that it will not capture your attention when they are on the table in a bookstore. An example that shows that, despite how excellent a work may be, it can remain forgotten for years until someone decides to bring it back to life with the oldest trick in the history of marketing, calling you attention at first sight.

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