Anyway, several rewrites later, Del Rey Books did publish my first novel, and it did become the first work of fiction on the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
My first novel was rejected by some of the most eminent publishers in the world. Starting again was a real wrench.
I've written fiction... but the nonfiction has always received the most attention.
I had always presumed that my first book would be published, but I never dreamt that I would write 15 bestsellers and have this wonderful life in America that I have entirely built for myself.
Fiction is the thing I esteem most in my own work; I feel that, even if it's no good, only I could have written those books.
I have no desire to write fiction. I did what I did, and it's done. There's more to life than writing and publishing fiction. There is another way entirely, amazed as I am to discover it at this late date.
I always assumed I could never make a living out of literary fiction, and I was right. When I did try, it took four years before being published.
I wrote a book with my mom and my sister for fun. I had no idea it would be a 'New York Times' bestseller.
If I hadn't been able to get my first book published, I am not sure what I would have done.
Last week I was just someone who had had a first novel published.
Actually my first eight books were historical novels, but they were never published.