There have been a lot of self-publishing successes, and I believe it’s a legitimate route for many authors (provided they go in to the venue fully informed). That being said, the nine-book deal didn’t sound right either. If the author is as great as such a deal would suggest, then locking up the next nine books is a dumb business move. Advances and royalties are already defined, leaving the author little room to negotiate if national success equals local success.

If the books do not take off nationally, then the publisher is dumb as they’ve committed to paying advances plus editorial, production, distribution, and marketing time over a very short window. Of course, if we’re talking the next Harry Potter, then the publisher is sitting very pretty.

Then again, maybe it’s the fact that a deal like this would have attracted more attention in the literary press (and we both follow that with a fair degree of closeness). It’s a nine-book deal. I remain skeptical, though always willing to review facts.

As for the nine books in two years, I couldn’t do it, but I know many writers who could–and do. Maybe the books are shorties. Maybe they’re already outlined. Maybe some of the manuscripts are already finished…. Still, you have to admire the woman.