The Seattle Times: Amazon's influence: Authors, artists court the online-retail giant

The Seattle Times: Amazon's influence: Authors, artists court the online-retail giant "Acerbic commentary aside, Franken and other authors have become a steady presence inside the walls of Amazon .com because of the site's ability to be precisely that: a benchmark by which authors can measure how well they're faring with consumers.
It's why Amazonians have received private book signings, mini-performances and even cooking demonstrations from a host of authors and artists ranging from Franken to famed barbecue author Steven Raichlen to country-music entertainer Roseanne Cash.
"Amazon is an early indicator of consumer enthusiasm," said Laurie Brown, senior vice president of marketing and sales at San Diego-based Harcourt, which enjoyed strong publicity for its book "Life of Pi" on the site."