Rejected by 26, Believed in by a Few

Every time I read about The Shack, I am amazed at how many of the things it touches on that we discuss on this forum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_P._Young

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/books/24shack.html?_r=1

Rejected 26 times and now a bestseller, even hitting no. 1. Spending $300 on promotion hits another recent topic. This shows that belief, perseverence and even the age of the author William P. Young, in his 50s speaks to so many perceived items of what can happen at any stage in life.

I wonder if any of those that rejected this work think back on it or do they just chalk it up to a fluke.

What if he had just shelved this book thinking that it just didn't measure up, after all, the experts decided that they would pass. This also says that the publisher's name on the book meant nothing.

This also says that the publisher's name on the book meant nothing.


DT,

You are so right in my sight.

I think it fits right into "if a thing is meant to be, it shall be".
No amount of rejection can stop an author who is determined. I am so pleased when I hear of stories such as this one. Sometimes, the publishers are just wrong. They try to predict what will sell, what people want to read. Someone comes along and surprises them. Yeah!

I think it also says something about the power of readers. It seems The Shack, a book about faith in a different way, is just what many needed in these times.

There were parts where the writing was brilliant. There were parts where it wasn't. But it is a very good book.

Carol

The same thing happened in the 90's with The Celestine Prophecy. The author self-published, and sold the book out of the trunk of his car, for real. It was in such demand that it was picked up by a major publisher. There are now several sequels as well as study guides and commentaries out there.

Ann

Ultimately, it's all about risk taking, not about the quality of the writing or imaginative writing or creative writing. The disappointing aspect is that some writers have to prove themselves (POD books will be picked up if substantial sales are achieved) while others are accepted even though they don't make the target figures, fail to cover the advance and lose money for the publisher.

It is not a level playing field out there. I don't agree totally with E. Don's lucky theory but I do see some truth in what he says. It's a tough old world.

I enjoyed the book as well as hearing the story of a Kinkos Quick Copy that made (and stayed on) the bestseller list.

Who know why it was rejected...the usual "we've never heard of this guy" or "having the Trinity show up at the shack is just too weird" or what.

To me, the book had a rather laborious start, but it paid off very well. Those publishers who claim they know whether a book is good or bad based on the first page or two can just read the stats on this book and weep.

Malcolm

How many sales from a self-published book cause a commercial publisher to sit up and take notice?

Since I give mine away now--am wondering how many I need to hand out.

Since I qut buying clothes, may as well buy my book. If I run out of people to afflict with it, I can shore up my house foundation, set up road blocks..Whatever.

Oh, Alice, you might end up in rags before you move on to riches. You would have to sell give away at least 5,000 loaves books.

Yah but I am on my way--what is the time frame? I can subtract what I have sold from 5000. Gettin easier all the time.

My contract runs for 7 years--four more to go. At 1200 books a year--I'd be way over the top. All I have to do is buy 100 books per month What a piece of cake.

Why didn't anyone tell me sooner? Here you folks let me feel like a loser.
I ain't a loser any longer--thanks DT!