TIPS FROM THE TOP

by | Oct 16, 2024 | Karna Small Bodman, The Writer's Life | 3 comments

By Karna Small Bodman

If you are an aspiring writer, you undoubtedly sense that you have a daunting, but exciting journey ahead of you. After all, right now there are 22,920,000 books available on Amazon. So how does a new book get noticed or ever make it to a bestseller list? 

I recall going to a number of conferences when I was starting to write thrillers and hearing tons of stories about how today’s well known authors and film projects had a hard time of it. For example, Mary Higgins Clark had 49 rejections before a publisher gave her a contract for her first mystery. 

Cover of Steve Berry's Red Star Falling, his most recent to top the bestsellers list.

At the very popular conference, Thrillerfest, organized by the International Thriller Writers organization, I listened to a talk by its former president, Steve Berry, about how he had 85 rejections from various agents and editors before nailing his first deal. Yet he persevered, writing dozens of wonderful historic thrillers. The latest addition to his list of New York Times bestselling books is Red Star Falling. It is described as an action-packed adventure where his hero Luke Daniels starts a quest in search of the legendary library of Ivan the Terrible. Of course it involves the head of a former CIA operation, a failed assassination attempt and other skullduggery that this author is famous for. Steve’s books have now been translated into 41 languages and there are over 25 million copies in print in 52 countries.

Also, a while back, also at Thrillerfest, I met mega-bestselling author James Patterson who confessed that his first novel was turned down by 31 publishers. Yet, he carried on. Look at him now. This super prolific writer is now recognized as THE most popular storyteller of all time. He’s also known to pair up with other bestselling authors as he did with Michael Crichton in their new release Eruption. That one is about a history-making eruption that is about to destroy the Big Island of Hawaii. But a secret held for decades by the US military is far more terrifying than any volcano. (Not sure I would exactly call it a “beach read” though).

Karna Bodman and James Patterson in a hotel hallway. Both in black and Karna wearing a thick black and red beaded necklace.
James Patterson is top of his field in sales

Cover image from Now or Never by Janet Evanovich, a former romance author who found success when she switched genres

As we’ve seen, it takes a long…long…time to build up a customer or reader base. Romance writer Joan Johnston told me she didn’t make a bestseller list until her 40th book. Lee Child said he finally made it with his 13th book. Janet Evanovich first wrote 10 romance novels with mediocre sales. Then she decided to switch genres and began to write novels featuring NJ bail bond investigator Stephanie Plum. The new one, Now or Never, has the heroine grappling with two fiancés — with no idea what to do about it. It is available for preorder as it will be released on November 19. 

Here are a few other amazing statistics: 12 production companies turned down Harry Potter; most studios turned down Star Wars, and when finally published, The Great Gatsby sold less than 5,000 copies.

Bottom line: One of my favorite quotes is from George Bernard Shaw who said, “You never fail until you quit.”

Karna Small Bodman
Based in several states, including Florida, author of several thrillers, a children's book, and this blog: Tips from the Top

Karna Small Bodman is the author of five international thrillers that have hit #1 in Thrillers on Amazon and won several awards, as well as a series of children’s picture books. Her books were inspired by the six years she served in the Reagan White House, first as Deputy Press Secretary, later as Senior Director of the National Security Council where she was the highest-ranking woman on the White House staff. On book tours she has given over 400 speeches and interviews nation-wide.  When not writing or traveling, she is serving on several boards and swimming laps at their homes in Naples, FL, and Washington, DC. 

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3 Comments

  1. Lisa Black

    OMG. 15 years and 9 full length novels before I got one published, and several more rejected after that point! I don’t know what kept me going, and sometimes all that keeps me from quitting is the near-certainty that it wouldn’t take. Eventually I’d get an idea, and then I’d be off again for better or for worse!

    • Karna Small Bodman

      Sure glad you kept at it and are now a bestselling author!!! –

    • Jenny Milchman

      My road was so long it was like an interstate highway. I think it’s great to share these stories, Karna, so emerging writers take heart.

      Love the pic of you with Bob Stine!