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Literary king-maker Oprah taps local writer for book club

By Patti Thorn, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 20, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Westminster author David Wroblewski made his debut with the critically acclaimed The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, which got recent kudos from Oprah Winfrey.

Photo by Ellen Jaskol / The Rocky

Westminster author David Wroblewski made his debut with the critically acclaimed The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, which got recent kudos from Oprah Winfrey.

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What's the first thing you do when someone tells you Oprah might call?

If you're Westminster author David Wroblewski, you focus on the essentials: "I made sure my cell phone was charged and that I was around it."

On Friday, the 48-year-old reaped the rewards of his vigilance, when Oprah Winfrey announced that his bestselling debut novel, The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, would be the 62nd pick for her influential book club.

The news practically guarantees that the novel will rocket into the sales stratosphere - a thought that would have most authors bouncing off walls with joy. But Wroblewski, reached at home Friday morning, sounded calm as an accountant.

"As far as my reaction, I'm delighted. It's going to be a great opportunity to have a discussion about the book," he said.

If Wroblewski was understated, others raved on his behalf. "We're clearly beyond thrilled," said Michael McKenzie, director of publicity for Ecco/HarperCollins, Wroblewski's publisher.

"It's so amazing, not only to have a book like this, but also a book by a debut author who, from the get-go, we were supporting as much as we could . . . Plus, he's such a good guy."

Ecco has printed 750,000 copies of the book with Oprah's seal, McKenzie noted. They will augment the 300,000 copies already in print.

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a richly atmospheric work, set on a northern Wisconsin farm. It revolves around a mute boy named Edgar, who helps his parents train and breed dogs.

A product of more than 10 years' work, the story received rave reviews from prominent authors such as Stephen King and Richard Russo even before its June 10 release. The novel was an immediate hit, debuting at No. 14 on The New York Times' June 29 best-seller list. It has enjoyed a run in the top 10 ever since.

On her show Friday, Oprah lavished praise on the work.

"Especially for people with pets, I think this is right up there with the greatest American novels ever written, like Steinbeck," she said. "It's a literary feast of a book that you will not want to end."

Interviewing Wroblewski via Web cam, she asked if he has been surprised by the book's success.

"Absolutely stunned," he said. "This is a very private project for me . . . I've been surprised it got published at all, to be honest."

The author, who moved to Colorado in 1990 and lives with his partner Kimberly McClintock, quit his job as a software designer just before the book was published to focus on a new novel and his book tour.

Describing Oprah's initial call, he admitted he was excited, but not because of the TV powerhouse's suggestion that his novel become part of her Book Club.

"It was really a call from an enthusiastic reader who wanted to talk about the book, someone who was extremely enthusiastic calling to say, 'The book worked for me, and I want you to know that it was wonderful.' And it was a delight for that reason."

Wroblewski is uncertain what Oprah's seal of approval will mean for him financially.

"I've actually asked this very question to my publisher: What exactly should I expect? But Ecco's a small press, and this has never happened to them either."

Meanwhile, he's keeping mum about his next project. Asked if he could offer any details about the novel-in-progress, he momentarily lost his cool.

"No," he blurted out. "None."

Then he chuckled. "Thanks for asking, but I'm superstitious about it."

The book

* The plot: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle is a coming-of-age tale that revolves around a mute teenage boy who lives on a Wisconsin farm with his parents, who train and breed dogs of exceptional quality. When Edgar's menacing uncle comes to live at the farm, trouble ensues, sending Edgar on the run with three of the animals. The story, filled with wonderful descriptive writing and well-drawn characters, has been lauded by critics since its release.

* The club: Oprah's Book Club has nearly 2 million online members. It has been known to bump a book's sales by as much as 1 million.

More: oprah.com/bookclub