The Author Guy Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve

 12th January 2024

Hello out there,

Welcome back. Last week, I spoke of my 10-year journey from the world of self-published “indie” authors to being accepted for distribution by one of the Big Five largest and most prestigious publishing houses. But that timeframe pales in comparison to others about whom I’ve read.

In the Forward to Terry Whalin’s “10 Publishing Myths,” author Jerry Jenkins wrote that he published 124 books before his Left Behind novel series took hold, selling 60 million copies.

James Patterson, the world’s most successful author as measured by book sales, experienced his first book being turned down by 31 publishers. 

James Lee Burke’s book “The Lost Get-Back Boogie” was rejected 111 times over nine years before LSU Press published it – and it was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Publishing industry phenomenon “Chicken Soup” was rejected 144 times before it was finally published, and has now sold over 500 million copies in over 20 variations.

Author Rod McKuen had been selling books out of his car before being discovered by famed editor Nan Telese, then for a few years he accounted for 24 percent of Random House revenue.

Somewhere between 700,000 and 1 million books are published every year, and very few of them will sell in meaningful quantities. I’m ever-hopeful about my future, but the truth is, the joy I receive from the craft of writing is in and of itself my greatest reward.

Until next week … Vaya con Dios

Larry B. Gildersleeve