Michael Palmer on getting the news of his first book publication…

by Michael Palmer
(author of Fatal, Silent Treatment, Extreme Measures and many more)
As published in Midnight Mind Number Five

After 22 years I really don’t think at all about when my first book (The Sisterhood) was bought by Bantam. I don’t think about it being January 7, 1980 at 2:15 in the morning. I don’t think about having to request my agent, Jane, to call me at a friend’s phone because mine had been turned off for failure to pay the bill.

Actually, the moments of that morning are so deeply etched in my memory, that I really believe they will be the last to go. I knew something was up because Jane told me to expect a call. I had fallen on pretty hard times (the phone wasn’t the only thing to go) and had decided I could make the three months to finish the first draft off a $5000 advance. Fat chance!

Fingers crossed, I answered the phone at exactly 2:15 am — negotiations had gone on longer than Jane had expected.

This was the conversation:
J — Well, it’s done. The Sisterhood is sold to Bantam Books.
M — Hey, that’s great.
J — Yes, it is.
M — Um . . .
J — Yes?
M — Um . . . could you tell me how much?
J — Oh, that . . . Guess.
M — What!!?? I’m not going to —
J — No, no. Guess what you got.
M — Okay, okay. Five thousand (breath held, fingers now crossed to near-breaking).
J — Nope. Much more.
M — (fullness in throat beginning) Ten.
J — More.
M — (tears starting) Dammit, Jane, I can’t play this game. How much?
J — Guess.
M — (Hoping to end the game with an absurdly high number) Okay, fiftythousanddollars.
J — Much, much, much, much more.

Now you see why I haven’t forgotten that morning. The actual number was $250,000 which in 1980 was even more significant. I hurried home to my two room apartment and danced to the theme from Rocky for four hours, until it was late enough to head to a payphone and begin collect calling.