I caught some interesting statements floating around the blogosphere from my author friends recently at the news that Janet Evanovich signed a four-book deal with Random House. She had been with St. Martin’s for years and has been selling her “Stephanie Plum” mystery series like hotcakes. She’s hot. No doubt.

My first reaction was, “Yay” and “Good for her.” I like it when an author hauls in the big bucks. It gives me a good feeling with regard to the reading and publishing worlds because it means people are reading and interested in books. So that’s why it surprised me to see some authors feeling a bit ticked off. As if Ms. Evanovich’s deal somehow takes away from their potential book contracts.
You know what? It doesn’t.

Writer Envy

One author said, “Why doesn’t she spread the wealth?” Meaning that she should have taken less money, I suppose. But why should she? Evanovich taking this deal doesn’t mean the average author is now going to get less. It doesn’t mean aspiring authors won’t get a book deal.

I think it comes down to professional jealousy. Authors are prone to it sometimes. I suppose that we toil for years and put our hearts and souls into our work, so when we get rejected we get crabby. We feel as if we are getting the short end. Then, to make matters worse, we hear about the success of another writer and it just gets in our craw.

The Success of One Writer Helps Us All

Here’s the thing I’d like to say to my fellow writers. I am one of you. I understand what it’s like to get a book rejected, to have a client tell you “no thanks,” and to see my fellow writers getting opportunities I wish I could have. I understand where you are coming from, but when a writer succeeds at the level Evanovich does, you’ve got to take your hat off for her. She’s earned it. It doesn’t matter if you, personally, don’t read her books. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re a “better writer.” The writing world is changing, and that means each and every writer needs to be supportive of the others in this game. You won’t sell less books if you are happy for another writer. You won’t lose fans if you publicly state you enjoy the work of another author.

More than that, with all the changes in the publishing industry today, writers need to support each other. We need to build each other up, because in the long run, it makes the entire publishing industry stronger. And that helps all of us.

__________________________________________
Additional resources:

• eBook Starter – Create Your Own Ebooks
• Complete Guide to Profit on eBooks
• Write Your Own eBook in 7 Days

In an age when most writers are trying to or hold on to a new book deal, James Patterson is showing us all how it’s done. PW reports that he just inked a 17 book deal. (Yes, folks! 17!) with Hachette publishing through 2012.

According to PW:

“The deal includes 11 adult titles, to be published in hardcover by Little, Brown and Company and in paperback by Grand Central Publishing, and six titles for young readers, to be published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.”

What can you say but… good for him!