12 New York Times Bestselling Authors Dish on Hitting the List

Roshani Chokshi, The Star-Touched Queen
What were you doing when you heard you hit? When I hit the list, I was on an airplane. I was at the ass end of the plane next to a Harley-Davidson dude who thought I got dumped because I just burst into tears.
How did you celebrate? I…don’t think I celebrated. I was so happy, but I was in such a daze that it didn’t hit me for a month, lol. When I eventually celebrated, it was with a bottle of champagne and reruns of Scrubs.
How have things in your publishing life changed since? Nothing really changed for me publishing wise? It’s a great honor to have, and an accomplishment I share with the incredible team at Macmillan and my fabulous agent, but it is not the only measure of success. I guess the only difference is I sometimes tell bartenders “I’m a New York Times bestseller,” and raise my eyebrows and still pay full price on my drinks.

David Arnold, Kids of Appetite
What were you doing when you heard you hit? The day before the list came out, I was with Adam Silvera, and he was like, “Yo, I’ll know before anyone, you want me to tell you either way?” and I was like, “Yeah, sure, I guess,” thinking I’d rather hear bad news from a friend. I was on tour at Copperfield’s Books outside San Francisco the next day. Adam told me about what time he’d call, so I went and locked myself in their bathroom. So that’s where I was when I heard the news. In the Copperfield’s bathroom.
How did you celebrate? After calling basically everyone I knew, I’m pretty sure I celebrated by going to bed early that night. I know, wild.
How have things in your publishing life changed since? I told my wife a long time ago I’d be really disappointed if I never published a book. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work with some of the best people in publishing, and have made some lifelong friends in the process, and there is no existing accolade worth more than that. Having New York Times bestseller in my bio is nice, but it really doesn’t change much of anything. And I’m glad for that.

Marieke Nijkamp, This is Where it Ends
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was home! I’d just come back from my weekly first aid class, and it was nearing midnight on this side of the world, so I was checking email/Twitter/doing “which starter Pokemon are you” quizzes when my agent sent me a message asking if she could call. (The answer to that, btw, is always yes.)
The call was a conference call with both my agent and my editor, and I clearly, viscerally remember when they told me TIWIE made the list…and I really don’t remember much else. I texted a few close friends. I told my mom. It was right around that time that Twitter picked up on it, too. And I spent the next couple of hours shaking too hard to even pour myself a drink.
How did you celebrate? I bought books. 😉 I also sent Edible Arrangements to my agent and my publisher. But I didn’t take a step back to celebrate until at least a week or so later. Because as it happened, I actually had a local book event that weekend and while there, Dutch media picked up on the story. So I stumbled from the initial rollercoaster of emotions right into a rollercoaster of media attention, and interviews with newspapers, radio, and national television. It was by far one of the most surreal weeks ever.
But champagne happened after that, too. And cupcakes, of course.
How have things in your publishing life changed since? Part of me still feels like I’m on that rollercoaster. Only a couple of months ago, I got to be a Children’s Breakfast speaker at BookExpo! I went from walking around the Javits with a “someday!” dream to standing there on stage, among people I admired, and it was one of the single best moments of my life.
More in general, the exposure TIWIE and I got and still get is awesome and humbling and I’m so grateful for all the opportunities it opened up, especially as a queer author with a queer book. Because literally nothing is better than hearing from readers who find themselves in your words—or who find themselves inspired to write their own.

And at the same time, I’m still the same me, playing with stories and nervously excited about the next book. Because some things never change 🙂

Sandhya Menon, When Dimple Met Rishi
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was driving back from book tour with my family. I remember I was behind the wheel in Wyoming when I answered the phone call from my editor. I totally thought she was calling to talk about something else. It was so unexpected that I had to have my publishing team repeat themselves several times before it finally sunk in that When Dimple Met Rishi had hit the New York Times bestseller list! I had to pull over and let my husband drive after that.
How did you celebrate? I was pretty exhausted from the book tour, so we had a quiet dinner at home to celebrate. My family and I reminisced about how long I’d been writing, and all the ups and downs in my career. It was so surreal!
How have things in your publishing life changed since? I’m busier now than I’d have ever imagined, but I’m loving every minute of it! I also love having the opportunity and experience to help up-and-coming authors who are new to the publishing industry.

Beth Revis, Across the Universe
What were you doing when you heard you hit? Cleaning the kitchen and getting ready to make supper. A friend texted to tell me congratulations and I had no idea what for until my agent called me a few moments after.
How did you celebrate? I demanded to go to a restaurant with the husband—I refused to cook that night. Afterward, it became something of an accidental tradition to celebrate good book news with margaritas.
How have things in your publishing life changed since? Honestly…not that much. Certainly there is some validation from hitting the list, and it’s one of those good things that still makes me smile. And I don’t mean to detract from the idea that it’s opened doors. I’ve had more opportunities because of the title, certainly. But in terms of my own creation of art, and in terms of how I view myself, very little has changed. In the end, the list is fickle and contrary. Very high-quality works never get close; some works that I feel aren’t worthy hit high. It’s not a valuation on artistic merit but of commercial viability, something that’s often outside the author’s hands. Getting on the list, staying on the list…these things can mess with an author’s head and make them forget about what’s really important, and what is the only thing they can control: the story.

Danielle Paige, Dorothy Must Die
What were you doing when you heard you hit? My story is the first half of a rom com! I had broken up with a boyfriend a half hour before—on the phone!—and I was in tears. One of my best friends, who happens to work in publishing and who I had known even before I thought about writing my first book, called and told me the news!
How did you celebrate? I forgot about the ex and went and met her and four of my best friends from college! (After calling my mom and dad and sister, of course!) 

How have things in your publishing life changed since? Dorothy hit the list the first week, so I think it absolutely shaped my publishing life. I had a whole other career in television first, and I never expected to make the list. I just wanted to keep writing books! It was a great surprise and a tangible marker of success I could share with my family—and the first indication I had that readers were actually reading and liking my book! I now also know there are tons of brilliant books that have yet to make the list and a lot of other factors go into hitting. So the list isn’t everything, but that doesn’t stop me from checking my phone on the Wednesday after release week, and not just to see my relationship status!

Mackenzi Lee, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was in a hotel room in California, getting ready to head to my event at Kepler’s with Anna-Marie McLemore, when I got a text from a friend of mine who works in publishing that just said DUDE CONGRATS! And I had no idea what she was talking about.
How did you celebrate? Had a pint of ice cream with my family, and then champagne the next night with booksellers in Asheville!
How have things in your publishing life changed since? I assumed that hitting the list meant I was never again going to struggle with drafting, or have plot holes in my manuscripts, or get turned down when I apply to festivals, or have bad writing days. I also assumed I would never again get zits—I am a New York Times bestseller, and New York Times bestsellers do not get zits! Just kidding. It hasn’t changed that much, honestly, other than I get that gorgeous little “New York Times Bestselling Author” moniker above my name on my covers.

Julie Murphy, Dumplin’
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was sitting in my car, sweating my ass off, because my ignition had locked and was stuck. I’d just gotten a haircut and the mix of sweat and frustration was killing my vibe. Then I got the phone call and promptly freaked out. I think the first tweet I sent out even had a typo—in true Julie Murphy fashion.
How did you celebrate? My vice is 100% cake, and luckily my favorite bakery makes mini versions of all their cakes, so I went and bought every flavor for a sampling bonanza. That night, friends and family stopped by for a slice and a little bit of champagne. Every time someone swung by I got to celebrate all over again. 10 out of 10 would do again!
How have things in your publishing life changed since? Well, I won’t lie, a lot of things about publishing can be sucky and difficult, but that New York Times is a sweet little thing that will always be mine. It’s also nice to have a recognizable thing in front of my name that even non-publishing people recognize. All that said, at the end of the day, I still have to change my cat’s litter box, so life isn’t all that different.

S. Jae-Jones, Wintersong
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was editing a Pub(lishing) Crawl podcast when my editor and marketing/publishing team called me with the news.
How did you celebrate? I kept it pretty low-key; my publisher and friends sent me flowers, which was lovely, and then I went to get drinks with my loved ones.
How have things in your publishing life changed since? Life after hitting the list more or less was the same, although I have recently become a full-time writer, which is definitely a change!

Evelyn Skye, The Crown’s Game and The Crown’s Fate
What were you doing when you heard you hit? When The Crown’s Game hit the list, I was sitting at my kitchen table, working on the sequel. Roshani Chokshi texted me, screaming in all caps…I had no idea the list had already published!! I didn’t believe her and kept asking for more information. She was standing at her agent’s desk, looking at the bestseller list. A couple minutes later, my editor called and confirmed that it was really really real!
With the sequel, The Crown’s Fate, I was texting with Sara Raasch, trying to keep my mind off the fact that the list was going to be released that afternoon. She kept me company until my phone rang and hurrah, it was good news!
How did you celebrate? Lots of shrieking and jumping up and down and then falling on the floor, flailing in disbelief. Followed by chocolate and strawberries and a sip of champagne (I am actually allergic to alcohol, so I just have a little taste of bubbly to set the mood, and then it’s all about the chocolate).
How have things in your publishing life changed since? A lot has changed, and yet nothing has. It’s such an incredible honor to have my books on the list and to get to see “New York Times Bestselling Author” above my name for the rest of my career. At the same time, I still sit down in front of my laptop every day to write, and I still doubt my abilities some days, and I still occasionally tell my boyfriend I’m going to quit because writing is too hard and I hope he’s okay with me running away to join the circus. But all in all, I’m just grateful to have had the opportunities I have, and I thank the stars all the time that I get to make things up for a living.

Amy Ewing, The Jewel
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was just leaving the house for an appointment when an author friend (Corey!) texted me saying “Congratulations NYT Bestseller!” And I was so confused. I had no idea what she was talking about. And then she sent me a screenshot of the list and almost immediately after that, my editor called me! Needless to say, I was a little late to the appointment.
How did you celebrate? Lots of wine 😉 A friend brought me flowers. I felt like I couldn’t stop smiling that whole night, or jumping up and down like a crazy person. It was pretty surreal!
How have things in your publishing life changed since? Hmmm…I’m on Instagram a lot more now? It honestly doesn’t affect my day to day, and I don’t know if it had anything to do with selling my next series. I still suffer from the same fears and self doubts, and I had a project in the works that didn’t sell. But it definitely helps when I go on dates with idiots who say, Oh you write for kids? Like, are they real books? and then I can be like, “Is the New York Times list REAL ENOUGH FOR YOU?”

Hillary Monahan, Mary: The Summoning
What were you doing when you heard you hit? I was on deadline for another book—it might have been Dead Little Mean Girl—when we found out. Because I write horror and horror is very “niche,” I think my pub house was as surprised as me and my agent were that it made the list at number two.
How did you celebrate? I cried. Crying is a totally acceptable joy response, right? But yes, I sat there like a baby and I cried. I called my mom, cried at her, and then I went out for celebration tacos.
How have things in your publishing life changed since? 
Not as much as you might think, beyond the really neat line under my name on covers.
I think people hear “hitting the list” and assume it’s a guaranteed Scrooge McDuck mountain of money, but that’s not the case. One or two weeks of spiked sales, particularly if it’s on the heels of a promo (which, this is relevant more when you’re talking the ebook New York Times hits of yore), means it’s a good pie slice and then it goes back to business as usual. Business as usual is not Scrooge McDuck. I guess I’d have to say it’s a little easier for me to get deals now? Meaning it’s another gold star on my report card, but my work is still held up to a competitive standard against other midlist authors.
I worked all the time before I hit the list.
I work all the time now that I’ve hit it.
The constant is words, words, words.