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Harper Lee's Next Novel Breaks Presale Records

Go Set a Watchman

Harper Lee's second novel Go Set a Watchman has set a new record for early sales for Alabama-based company Books-A-Million, the country's second-largest bookseller.

CEO Terrance Finely says his firm has taken more pre-orders for the book, penned by one of Alabama's most beloved natives, than any other book for adults.

Pre-orders for Go Set a Watchman still fall short of records set by the Harry Potter books, but Books-A-Million classifies J.K. Rowling's series as a children's work.

Finley says the company placed a special emphasis on Lee's second novel because of how important she and her first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, have been to Alabama.

Books-A-Million has traded on the New York Stock Exchange since 1992. The company reported a net income of $2.9 million last year, but has finished two of the last four fiscal years with net losses.

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