I remember reading about The Warehouse and feeling envious. Because I've gotten dropped so many times I wonder if it's brain damage that keeps me writing. I sold my first book to an editor because her sales manager had seen it at another house and had fought for it and lost. But the publisher went out of business six months after my novel was published (and 153 years after its founding). Got a three-book deal with another big NYC publisher that passed on the option for a fourth after seeing three weeks of sales data on the first one; they didn't bother waiting to see how books 2 and 3 did. Published my next four books with a small house just to keep my name in print. Went to the publisher you write about in The Warehouse with a new series, and thought I might finally have found a home. But that publisher, too, passed on the second book in the series three days before the first was nominated for a major award. Five agents have dropped me along the way, too. I've self-published another eight novels, many of which received starred reviews in trade mags like PW. A film/tv creative development group expressed interest in my YA thriller series, but is now ghosting me. Have never quit my day job, but still dream of it. Don't know why I still write, but persistence is why I have 16 novels in print. Tom Clancy once said that writing novels is like digging ditches. It's hard work. But some of us can't not do it.
Sep 3Liked by Rachel Kramer Bussel, Rob Hart, Open Secrets
Dear Rob -- SO PROUD OF YOU, MAN! Thanks for talking about the way things actually work (and don't) in publishing and Hollywood, especially now that publishing is basically Hollywood, Jr. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but writing from love is the only things that matters.
And writers -- who ostensibly work to illuminate the true -- need to know the truth about the business they aspire to. The dream is a carrot. The truth is a stick. And the journey is a road that goes on forever, with occasional blinking "Vacancy" signs on the garishly-overlit roadside motels we call "success". Where very few get to stay for long. And most don't last a week.
It takes courage and strength to be vulnerable. There's magical thinking around "success" and "failure", as if we can control other people's thoughts, emotions or actions. In writing, as in life, there are ups and downs. We get to choose how we want to internalize forces outside of our control. I'm glad you choose to keep writing, and to share your journey so generously. Thank you.
Proud of you, brother. Thanks for writing this and for the reminder that some paths (perhaps most paths) aren't linear. Life doesn't work that way. Appreciate you for sharing!
Have you read any Donald Westlake? “The Hook” is about a similar situation, a writer who had a few decent selling books but has since been dropped and now is trying to start over using a pseudonym. He picks up a side project ghost writing for a very successful frenemy novelist who has writer’s block because he’s going through a messy divorce.
Anyway, I’m glad to hear things have rebounded for you.
This is great. I think people should share more vulnerability. And you're right -- I am surprised The Warehouse didn't do better. I assumed it had due to the coverage and the fact that I couldn't put it down. Glad to hear your latest is doing all right :)
Hi Rob, thanks so much for sharing this. I just saw you at Bouchercon and am so grateful for your candor. I first heard you talk about the value of stubbornness on David Gwyn’s Thriller 101 podcast and it really stuck with me. Wishing you all the best with everything!
I believe stubbornness is prevalent in the publishing industry as well. Book publishers are facing the same changes as film and music, but the difference with film and music is that they (kind of) saved their industries by adapting to the new technologies through streaming platforms. The book publishing industry is too convinced that they're going to stay alive by using the same old business model, but everyone can see the writing on the wall.
Thank you for sharing. I know I always hope for the magic to occur, but reality is that it is really tough, even with the best "supports" surrounding your deal. Keep up to the hard skills and push forward.
Great essay about the rollercoaster ride of the published author experience. I'm really glad Rob Hart shared his publishing story (to-date!), because it's an insightful capture of what all authors will go through. The marketplace is ever evolving and fickle, and inherent in that is going to be both ups and downs for authors. Even those rare authors who always hit the bestseller list have to deal with the stresses of a declining sales track, or a book that didn't perform as well as expected on this metric or that. So many variables. Inspired by Rob's perseverance, and wonderful to hear about his latest success and upswing moment. Shout out to Rachel Kramer Bussell for publishing this great essay and others over at Open Secrets Magazine!
I remember reading about The Warehouse and feeling envious. Because I've gotten dropped so many times I wonder if it's brain damage that keeps me writing. I sold my first book to an editor because her sales manager had seen it at another house and had fought for it and lost. But the publisher went out of business six months after my novel was published (and 153 years after its founding). Got a three-book deal with another big NYC publisher that passed on the option for a fourth after seeing three weeks of sales data on the first one; they didn't bother waiting to see how books 2 and 3 did. Published my next four books with a small house just to keep my name in print. Went to the publisher you write about in The Warehouse with a new series, and thought I might finally have found a home. But that publisher, too, passed on the second book in the series three days before the first was nominated for a major award. Five agents have dropped me along the way, too. I've self-published another eight novels, many of which received starred reviews in trade mags like PW. A film/tv creative development group expressed interest in my YA thriller series, but is now ghosting me. Have never quit my day job, but still dream of it. Don't know why I still write, but persistence is why I have 16 novels in print. Tom Clancy once said that writing novels is like digging ditches. It's hard work. But some of us can't not do it.
Dear Rob -- SO PROUD OF YOU, MAN! Thanks for talking about the way things actually work (and don't) in publishing and Hollywood, especially now that publishing is basically Hollywood, Jr. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but writing from love is the only things that matters.
And writers -- who ostensibly work to illuminate the true -- need to know the truth about the business they aspire to. The dream is a carrot. The truth is a stick. And the journey is a road that goes on forever, with occasional blinking "Vacancy" signs on the garishly-overlit roadside motels we call "success". Where very few get to stay for long. And most don't last a week.
Beautifully said, John. Thank you.
It takes courage and strength to be vulnerable. There's magical thinking around "success" and "failure", as if we can control other people's thoughts, emotions or actions. In writing, as in life, there are ups and downs. We get to choose how we want to internalize forces outside of our control. I'm glad you choose to keep writing, and to share your journey so generously. Thank you.
Agreed! And I just ordered Assassins Anonymous yesterday. "Never give up! Never surrender!" was probably a writer's motto first.
Thanks for your transparency. It helps this (recently disappointed)
writer shift perspective and keep going.
Proud of you, brother. Thanks for writing this and for the reminder that some paths (perhaps most paths) aren't linear. Life doesn't work that way. Appreciate you for sharing!
Have you read any Donald Westlake? “The Hook” is about a similar situation, a writer who had a few decent selling books but has since been dropped and now is trying to start over using a pseudonym. He picks up a side project ghost writing for a very successful frenemy novelist who has writer’s block because he’s going through a messy divorce.
Anyway, I’m glad to hear things have rebounded for you.
This is great. I think people should share more vulnerability. And you're right -- I am surprised The Warehouse didn't do better. I assumed it had due to the coverage and the fact that I couldn't put it down. Glad to hear your latest is doing all right :)
Hi Rob, thanks so much for sharing this. I just saw you at Bouchercon and am so grateful for your candor. I first heard you talk about the value of stubbornness on David Gwyn’s Thriller 101 podcast and it really stuck with me. Wishing you all the best with everything!
Thanks for sharing this Rob and for your candor when we spoke at Bouchercon. You don’t know how much it’s helped me reframe my thoughts. -KT
This was an inspiring read, thank you!
I believe stubbornness is prevalent in the publishing industry as well. Book publishers are facing the same changes as film and music, but the difference with film and music is that they (kind of) saved their industries by adapting to the new technologies through streaming platforms. The book publishing industry is too convinced that they're going to stay alive by using the same old business model, but everyone can see the writing on the wall.
The question is, what replaces the old method?
Thank you for sharing. I know I always hope for the magic to occur, but reality is that it is really tough, even with the best "supports" surrounding your deal. Keep up to the hard skills and push forward.
Great essay about the rollercoaster ride of the published author experience. I'm really glad Rob Hart shared his publishing story (to-date!), because it's an insightful capture of what all authors will go through. The marketplace is ever evolving and fickle, and inherent in that is going to be both ups and downs for authors. Even those rare authors who always hit the bestseller list have to deal with the stresses of a declining sales track, or a book that didn't perform as well as expected on this metric or that. So many variables. Inspired by Rob's perseverance, and wonderful to hear about his latest success and upswing moment. Shout out to Rachel Kramer Bussell for publishing this great essay and others over at Open Secrets Magazine!
Thank you for sharing your experiences so openly and honestly.
Honesty to this degree is rare and bracing and valuable. Thank you.
Appreciate your honesty with this piece. It's a hard path!