My Boy Reclaims No.1 slot in Best Sellers

Launched on March 4, My Boy, written by Philomena with Hot Press' Jackie Hayden, spent two weeks at No. 2 in the Irish Non Fiction Best Sellers (Paperback), before climbing to the top spot. After three weeks at No. 1, the book had slipped to No. 2 last week – but a burst of publicity and a surge in sales at leading bookseller Hodges Figgis (for whom it was the overall No. 1 best seller last week) now sees it reclaiming the top spot.

It is a remarkable achievement for the book, which is now in its fourth week at No. 1 – and is due to go into its fourth reprint.

"It is such an incredible story, that we knew that if we put a good campaign behind it, My Boy would be a big hit," publisher Niall Stokes of Hot Press Books said. "But its performance has been genuinely remarkable. It is quite obvious from the sales that it has crossed over and become a big mainstream hit.

"It is a wonderful human interest story, centering on a truly remarkable woman. It is of enormous interest, of course, to fans of Thin Lizzy and of Philip Lynott – but it is also a book that appeals in a special way to women of all ages. It tells a tragic story, one in which there is real hardship, pain and grief. But there is redemption too. In the end it is a statement of hope – especially for people who are adopted or who gave their children up for adoption. My Boy is a wonderfully gripping and inspiring book."

The international rights for the book are now the focus of considerable interest in the publishing industry outside Ireland.

"I think people in the trade are aware now just how powerful the story is, and how much it appeals to book buyers," Stokes said. "There is a lot of interest, so we will see what is the best way to go with it in different territories over the next few weeks."

"I am so pleased that so many people have responded in such an amazing way to the story I have to tell," Philomena said. "When I look back I think: I really have had a crazy life, which I imagine is what makes the book so appealing. At the book signings, I've had people in tears telling me stories about adoption and the heartbreaking experiences they've been through. I really hope that My Boy can be an inspiration for everyone who has ever been through experiences of that kind. But to achieve this success now means so much to me, so I want to say thanks to everyone who has bought the book. I know that Philip would be as proud of me as my two other wonderful children Philomena and Leslie are."

Philomena Lynott will conduct a book signing in The Philip Lynott Exhibition in Dublin tomorrow, Friday April 29 from 1pm.