Bookplanet: Libby's indictment is marketing ploy to sell his novel

Scooter Libby's 1996 novel, "The Apprentice," was all but forgotten until Mr. Libby, then Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff, was indicted on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury last month. Now it has taken on new life, and St. Martin's Press is rushing back into print 25,000 copies of the book, a thriller set in Japan in 1903, The Associated Press reported. "There has been an overwhelming response from the marketplace and from booksellers who want this book," said Sean Desmond, a senior editor at Thomas Dunne Books, a St. Martin's imprint. Mr. Libby has pleaded not guilty to charges of lying to investigators and a grand jury about his role in the leaking of information about the C.I.A. operative Valerie Wilson to reporters.

WATCH AUTHORS consider indictable offenses they could commit to sell books.