Customers can view video interviews with Bill Bryson, John le Carré, Lynne Truss and other favourite authors.
February 25, 2004: as part of its continued focus on providing the best customer shopping experience, Amazon.co.uk, the UK's leading online retailer, has today launched the Authors' Lounge, which showcases exclusive video interviews with a wide range of bestselling authors.

The Authors' Lounge will premiere with an exclusive interview from Lynne Truss, whose informative and often hilarious guide to the uses and misuses of punctuation, Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation, has been a consistent bestseller for over 12 weeks in the Amazon.co.uk Hot 100 book chart.

Other authors whose interviews are currently available exclusively at Amazon.co.uk include John le Carré (Absolute Friends), Bill Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything) and children's author Jacqueline Wilson (Midnight). Amazon.co.uk customers can view videos of authors explaining the reasons for writing their books, learn what inspired them to write and hear quirky personal insights.

Greg Hart, Director of Media Products for Amazon.co.uk comments:

  • We are delighted to introduce the Authors' Lounge to our site, and believe it will be a fun and original way to enhance our customers' shopping experience, by bringing them closer to some of their favourite authors.

All interviews with the authors are undertaken by former radio and television journalist David Freeman, who has more than 25 years' experience of working with and interviewing authors. David Freeman says:

  • I am delighted to be working with Amazon.co.uk on this project. I have always wanted to help authors become more visible to the book-buying public at the crucial point of purchase. I believe it is a fantastic way of introducing customers to authors so they can see for themselves the passion and thought that went into the writing of these books.

Over 70 authors are ready to be discovered in the Authors' Lounge, and some of the authors currently featured include: Philip Pullman (Lyra's Oxford), Ben Schott (Schott's Original Miscellany), Robert Harris (Pompeii), Griff Rhys Jones (To the Baltic with Bob), Frederick Forsyth (Avenger) and Tracy Chevalier (The Lady and the Unicorn).

More authors are set to be introduced into the Authors' Lounge over the coming weeks and they will continue to represent a variety of genres, including fiction, non-fiction and children's books. Upcoming authors include: Jackie Collins (Hollywood Divorces), Rageh Omaar (Revolution Day) Dave Pelzer (The Privilege of Youth) and Christopher Brookmyre (Be My Enemy).

Customers can view the Authors' Lounge video interviews using Real Player, in either 56k or 300k bandwidth options. The video interviews are 30-60 seconds long.

Amazon.co.uk's Books shop is the place to find, discover and buy books. It offers an easy and convenient way to shop, featuring low prices, millions of books and comprehensive product information. With 30% off books over £10 and free UK delivery on qualifying orders over £25, it's now easier than ever for customers to save money by shopping at Amazon.co.uk.

For further information please contact the Amazon.co.uk press office on 020 8636 9280.

About Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.co.uk opened its virtual doors in October 1998, and strives to be the world's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon.co.uk and sellers list millions of new and used items in categories such as Books, Music, Video, DVD, Software, PC & Video Games, Electronics & Photo, Home & Garden, and Toys & Games!. Through Amazon Marketplace, zShops and Auctions any business or individual can sell virtually anything to Amazon.co.uk's millions of customers. Amazon.co.uk customers enjoy the benefits of industry-leading online-shopping technology, such as secure credit-card payment, personalised recommendations, streamlined, 1-Click® ordering and hassle-free Bid-Click® auction bidding. Through Amazon Anywhere, Amazon.co.uk is also available on mobile phones with WAP technology--see www.amazon.co.uk/anywhere for details.

Amazon.com and its affiliates operate seven websites: www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.ca, and www.joyo.com.

As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

Forward-looking Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to potential future losses, significant amount of indebtedness, competition, management of growth, potential fluctuations in operating results, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions, and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, international expansion, consumer trends, inventory, limited operating history, government regulation and taxation, fraud, and new business areas. More information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, and all subsequent filings.