Newest "billion-dollar author"

A couple months ago, I wrote here about the bestselling-ebook author of all time, Amanda Hocking, who sold $2 million worth of ebooks in one year. A couple of weeks later, she signed a deal with an agent and a traditional publisher, which I also blogged about.


This weekend, Amanda will be featured in a great article now being previewed in the New York Times. For the first time, we get some real details about here life, and pictures of her -- and we get to hear about her big plans to become, in short order, the world's next billion-dollar author. The New York Times believes she can do it, and so do I. Here is a quip from them:

"Her character-driven books, which feature trolls, hobgoblins and fairy-tale elements and keep the pages turning, have generated an excitement not felt in the industry since Stephenie Meyer or perhaps even J. K. Rowling."


Not bad for an author who, before she self-published her own ebooks, could not get an agent, let alone a publisher. I really find tremendous glee in Amanda's story, because it teaches all of us that AGENTS CAN BE WRONG when they reject us -- after all, all the big authors have been rejected, including J.K. Rowling. (The NYTimes once reported that some of the agents and editors who turned down Rowling before she was famous were fired once she hit the big time. Can you imagine being the editor who TURNED DOWN HARRY POTTER?)


Anywho -- Go Amanda Hocking! She is an inspiration to all of us.  You can read the full NYTimes article here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/magazine/amanda-hocking-storyseller.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

2 comments:

  1. I love her story! I love the idea of being able to crack the 'agent barrier' and publish things yourself. It gives me hope and I think about it a lot. Thanks for keeping us posted about her progress.

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  2. Great post, I love reading about Amamda's journey. And you better believe I bought one of her books. Thanks for the suggestion.

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