Thursday, September 27, 2007

Best seller - almost but not nearly

The postman was late today. There doesn't seem to be a regular time for him to come. Ah, for the old days when the post arrived before the children left for school.

Anyway, he brought me a letter. A royalty statement from Hodder. It tells me that my book, A Cop for Christ, has sold 10,738 copies since it was published a few years ago. (Actually quite a few years ago.) I am impressed and rather pleased with that. I shall have to remember it when I next receive a rejection.

I've come back from holiday as I always do, full of enthusiasm and plans for my writing. One of my plans is to re-write my novel. I still like the characters and the general idea of the story but have come up with a different way of telling it. I like the way it's done now but quite clearly the agents don't. Lots of other ideas as well. All that it needs now is for me to put them into action.

Oh, I've just discovered dried egg yolk on my chin! I am turning into an old dear.

P.S. Amazon lists the author as Mike Di Sanza, the name on the front. My only credit is in small writing on the back because the publishers felt it would sell better that way. But I did write every word - except the foreword.

7 comments:

mdmhvonpa said...

10K people who thought enough to pay for your wisdom ... not too shabby!

Shades said...

I bet the royalties were nothing to write home about though. I know a (technical) author who told me he only started to make serious money when he had dozens of titles and when he was translated for other markets.

Liz Hinds said...

Yes, mdm, that's true. Apart from 9k books I bought myself! (Just joking. It was only 8K)

Shades, we received £4,000 in advance, shared equally between the cop and me and I spent more than my share on a trip to New York to finish interviewing him!! Husband and I had a good time in NYC though.

James Higham said...

Congrats and leave the egg yolk on your face.

Lee said...

How wonderful, Liz. It must be great to be a published author of a book! Congratulations! :)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Wow! I didn't know you had published a book! I am full of admiration. Well done.

Anonymous said...

Well done - I knew about the book, bought my own copy, and have often thought about it when you feel down about rejection notices. You are right to remind yourself about this successful book!

You often write about your church and the cafe on here - there's a book there, isn't there?