STATUS: Why did I plan two writers’ conferences on back-to-back weekends? What was I thinking?
What’s playing on the iPod right now? SOME ENCHANTED EVENING from the musical South Pacific
I really wish I knew the how and the what of when a book lands on the NYT bestseller list. If I did, I would certainly share. It’s proprietary information so any big reveal is definitely not happening any time soon.
I can tell you that here at the Nelson Agency, Wednesday afternoons are met with much anticipation as that is when the next week’s list are announced (before the info is known to the general public).
We jump on that email in about ten seconds.
Ally Carter’s I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU spent 10 weeks on the top ten NYT list before dropping off. With much sadness, we were greeted with that news about 2 weeks ago.
And then, rather suddenly (or at least it feels that way as it is not readily apparent to us as to why), the title hit the list again
Now we can’t wait for 3 p.m. each Wednesday to find out if the title has stayed on or not. I’m happy to say that we are still there for the week of April 13 in position number 5. That’s makes 12 weeks total (three months).
That’s an amazing fact to contemplate.
And now I’m waiting eagerly for next week’s list as we might be hearing about another title that has very strong sales right out of the gate but since we don’t know the factors involved (and it may or may not be harder to hit the adult list), we’ll just have to wait on pins and needles for the list announcement tohappen next Wednesday.
Now you know what we are doing every Wed. afternoon when we should be working as the waiting is the hardest part!
I can relate to the waiting being “the hardest part” comment. It’s what we writers go through after sending in queries, partials and manuscripts! I swear it’s nearly impossible to get anything done in the meantime.
Is it the same in YA as it is in adult books – that making the NYTimes bestseller list leads to bonuses from the publisher?