Penguin credited best December ever in mass market paperback sales to the Sookie Stackhouse series of vampire novels by Charlaine Harris

This is in an article about Penguin book sales, nice to know Ms Harris is being credited with turning around their sales, ' best December ever' in this economy ?
Wow, whoot gooo Sookie !

Penguin Group (USA) had “a very strong year in 2008,” according to Chief Executive David Shanks.

“We exceeded our full-year targets and outperformed the overall market,” he said in a statement.

Some of that growth came from Oprah Winfrey book club pick A New Earth. But in an interview Mr. Shanks also credited mass market paperback sales of the Sookie Stackhouse series of vampire novels by Charlaine Harris, which formed the basis of the HBO hit True Blood.

“Much to everybody’s glee, the biggest piece from last year was from the much maligned mass market piece of our business,” Mr. Shanks said, referring to the lackluster sales that mass market titles have suffered in recent years. “It made the industry realize that if you have something people want in mass market, it’s still a very viable format.”

A boxed set of the first seven titles in the series helped Penguin score one of its best Decembers ever, Mr. Shanks said.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090302/FREE/903029973