4th April 2004

Pan Macmillan publishes first online novel backed by web and text promotional campaign

Matthew Reilly, bestselling author of Scarecrow and Area 7, is publishing his latest novel on the internet in eight fortnightly instalments between 4 April and 20 July. Each chapter of Hover Car Racer will be available free to download from www.hovercarracer.com and emailed direct to subscribers.  The project is being sponsored by Canon and United International Pictures.

Matthew is undertaking this unique project in order to thank his existing readership for their loyalty, as well as to get his work in front of a wider audience of non-regular book buyers.  Pan Macmillan will release the hardback version of the novel in November, and the paperback of Matthew's most recent novel, Scarecrow, is published in October.

Respondents to the interactive media campaign will be able to send a text or log on at the UK promotional site www.hovercarracer.co.uk to sign up to:

• a competition to win a role in Hover Car Racer. Matthew will write the winner into the final episode which will go live on 20 July.
• plot previews  - those who opt-in to this service will receive bi-weekly previews of the next chapter, to encourage and remind readers to sign in to www.hovercarracer.com and keep reading
• a competition to win a day with Matthew Reilly
• subscription to a Matthew Reilly members' club, receiving texts from Matthew and updates on forthcoming releases and appearances

The web site will also offer downloads of mobile phone logos and MMS images.

This is the first time a publisher has used SMS and email as the central media in a marketing campaign.

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