About New York; Brazilian Niche For an Author And His Fans
Published: January 30, 1988  They had a book-signing party the
other night on West 46th Street in a narrow shop brimming with
smoked sausages, meat pies, manioc flour, coffee beans, beer,
books, cassettes and periodicals, among other items. Nearly
everyone spoke Portuguese, a silky language slipping off certain
tongues. The author, who is famous round the world but not so
hot in this republic yet, is Brazilian.  The shopkeepers, Lidia
and Antonio Pires, are old friends of the novelist, Jorge Amado,
and the party was an expression of their affection. Bantam Books
Inc., Mr. Amado's publisher, is doing everything publishers do
when they decide to pump a book on a grand scale, so the
gathering in what amounts to a country store just off Times
Square was not a make-or-break affair. It was an enormous
success, all the same.  Mr. and Mrs. Pires had done this once
before, two years ago, for the Portuguese edition of Mr. Amado's
book, ''Tocaia Grande.'' Now t