BOOK PRINTING OUTLOOK — BEST-SELLERS FLOAT ALL BOATS

“If they both come out in 2007, those are blockbuster authors and subjects,” Tobin notes. “They would certainly be highly anticipated and highly publicized books. That’s good for the book business because it gets people talking about books and it builds excitement.”

It was an outstanding year for consumer sales for Chicago-based RR Donnelley, which saw the platform grow significantly, according to Ed Lane, president, book and directory. On the consumer trade end, while there was a lack of publishing “front list hits,” RR Donnelley reaped the reward of strength via its broad client base. One aspect that augments RR Donnelley’s standing, he contends, is its relationships with publishers from the smallest to the largest.