Get rich writing SF/F? It can be done!

rugcat · Jul 12, 2007

From Publishers Weekly:

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

PEN Hemingway Award and Stephen Crane Prize winner Justin Cronin's apocalyptic trilogy, presupposing that vampires are real, created by a virus that produces profound physical and psychological transformation, beginning with THE PASSAGE, a re-imagining of the traditional Gothic vampire story, considering our contemporary fears of viral epidemics, government ineptitude, scientific knowledge outstripping ethical understanding, and the dissipation of human bonds, offering themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice, set against an epic struggle to heal a broken world, to Mark Tavani at Ballantine, reportedly in a major deal for $3.75 million (NY Mag), for publication beginning in summer 2009, by Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group (NA).

Mr. Fix · Jul 12, 2007

Did Vampires cause global warming?

If he could just blame global warming on Vampires he'll have covered just about every modern fear-mongering effort put out by the Mass-Media empire.

Topical, yes. Worth 3.5 million, time will tell.

My book is about the end of the earth (sort of - eventually) someone can advance me just one percent of that and I'd take it!

Next book - Global warming caused by werewolves! I'm there, baby!

ChunkyC · Jul 12, 2007

Geez, I hope they have enough money left over for nice covers.

And I think I'm gonna query that agent....

jhtatroe · Jul 12, 2007

And I think I'm gonna query that agent....

Not that she needs any new clients, even with 15% of that.

benbradley · Jul 12, 2007

Mr. Fix said:
If he could just blame global warming on Vampires he'll have covered just about every modern fear-mongering effort put out by the Mass-Media empire.

Would this Vampire story put readers into a "State of Fear?"

Rolling Thunder · Jul 12, 2007

Man. A recycled Twilight Zone episode got that much money?

*runs off to watch TV*

Jenny · Jul 12, 2007

What a fantastic deal! Thanks for posting - it's not like I believe this can happen to me - but dreaming is nice

mscelina · Jul 12, 2007

A Hemingway and Crane award winner? Then we're talking about a writer with serious credentials.

I, of course, will sell my grocery list for $15. Any takers?

Thump · Jul 12, 2007

Dude... if you're gonna blame Global Warming on something, don't use werewolves! You need WereCOWS!

MattW · Jul 12, 2007

Is there a link to the Knights Templar and Roswell NM?

MattW · Jul 12, 2007

...to Mark Tavani at Ballantine, reportedly in a major deal for $3.75 million (NY Mag), for publication beginning in summer 2009...

Expected cover price $137.50

RTH · Jul 13, 2007

Resident Evil, anyone? Gimme a break.

Not that I'm speaking out of jealousy. Of course not... :gone:

Bartholomew · Jul 13, 2007

RTH said:
Resident Evil, anyone?

But with different types of Undead, and a bit more Punk-sounding.

Claudia Gray · Jul 13, 2007

The concept isn't new -- which suggests to me, combined with the sale price, that the execution is out of this world.

Vomaxx · Jul 13, 2007

rugcat said:
From Publishers Weekly:

PEN Hemingway Award and Stephen Crane Prize winner Justin Cronin's apocalyptic trilogy, presupposing that vampires are real, created by a virus that produces profound physical and psychological transformation, beginning with THE PASSAGE, a re-imagining of the traditional Gothic vampire story, considering our contemporary fears of viral epidemics, government ineptitude, scientific knowledge outstripping ethical understanding, and the dissipation of human bonds, offering themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice, set against an epic struggle to heal a broken world, to Mark Tavani at Ballantine, reportedly in a major deal for $3.75 million (NY Mag), for publication beginning in summer 2009, by Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group (NA).

And $1 million will be paid to whoever can tell us if this vast collection of words is actually a sentence. It's written as one.

MelodyO · Jul 13, 2007

Mr. Fix said:
Next book - Global warming caused by werewolves! I'm there, baby!

It's because all that fur is so HOT!

Dominic · Jul 13, 2007

PEN Hemingway Award and Stephen Crane Prize winner Justin Cronin's apocalyptic trilogy created by a virus that produces profound physical and psychological transformation, beginning with THE PASSAGE, considering our contemporary fears of viral epidemics, government ineptitude, scientific knowledge outstripping ethical understanding, and the dissipation of human bonds, offering themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice, set against an epic struggle to heal a broken world, to Mark Tavani at Ballantine, for publication beginning in summer 2009, by Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group (NA).

My entry for the million dollars.

One comma splice at the end, but otherwise, this is what I came down to when I cut the modifying phrases. I think it would have been better written as about four sentences, but then again, I didn't get paid for those... what? 50 words?

Dominic

Sean D. Schaffer · Jul 13, 2007

rugcat said:
From Publishers Weekly:

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

PEN Hemingway Award and Stephen Crane Prize winner Justin Cronin's apocalyptic trilogy, presupposing that vampires are real, created by a virus that produces profound physical and psychological transformation, beginning with THE PASSAGE, a re-imagining of the traditional Gothic vampire story, considering our contemporary fears of viral epidemics, government ineptitude, scientific knowledge outstripping ethical understanding, and the dissipation of human bonds, offering themes of love, friendship, and sacrifice, set against an epic struggle to heal a broken world, to Mark Tavani at Ballantine, reportedly in a major deal for $3.75 million (NY Mag), for publication beginning in summer 2009, by Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group (NA).

"A man with a million dollars is as well off as if he were rich." -- J. J. Astor

I thought of that as I read this post. No particular reason to mention it; I just thought of the quote and decided I would post it.

I wish the author the very best.

Dominic · Jul 13, 2007

Sean D. Schaffer said:
I wish the author the very best.

Not me, I'm planning how to mug him while he's carrying that 3.75 mill!!!

<insert maniacal laughter here>

<insert fit of coughing here>

<insert wheezing laughter here>

Dominic

PS sorry, funn little mood has seized me.

badducky · Jul 13, 2007

Publisher's Weekly blurbs tend to read like that, guys. They're hype sentences. (Often designed to get the attention of people looking for film/dramatic rights...)

In other news, good luck earning that advance out, and may I also be cursed with such a task and soon.

Hey, I have some pretty solid credentials, and I'm looking for a new agent. Who was that again?

BarbJ · Jul 13, 2007

Badducky: "In other news, good luck earning that advance out, and may I also be cursed with such a task and soon."

:tongue

Dominic · Jul 13, 2007

badducky said:
In other news, good luck earning that advance out, and may I also be cursed with such a task and soon.

I have no credentials, yet, but I'm still willing to try to earn out that advance.

Dominic

Will Lavender · Jul 13, 2007

Off-topic, but I know Mark Tavani. He made a short-lived play for my novel, but ended up backing out of the auction at the end. Wonder if he would've paid me that much money?

And I think Cronin's concept sounds hellacious. Can't wait to read it.

Will Lavender · Jul 13, 2007

And:

As someone else said, this is a perfect mix for a big-time advance.

Win a pretty major literary award. Write a genre novel, especially one starring vampires. Plug in all kinds of ripped-from-the-headlines elements into the genre.

Voila. Three million bucks.

See? It's easy. ; )

MissLadyRae · Jul 14, 2007

Crikey, it is one long sentence! lol

But dang it all, if my high hasn't just deflated. It sounds a lot like my upcoming book next month. Eeek!

I know there's nothing new under the sun but still...pooey.

Get rich writing SF/F? It can be done!

Lost in the Fog

Fixed on the future...

It's hard being green

It's a doggy dog world

Who should be writing ...

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

defying grabbity

Company Man

Company Man

Call me Ishmael

Comic guy

Waiting for love on the web

No Time For Chitchat, Kemosabe.

Everything is what it seems.

Everything is what it seems.

I vaahnt to suck your blaahd