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I wasn't planning this post
but, I'm back from a week of hiking in beautiful Zion Canyon
feet up on the table
perusing the newspaper
when I saw the Parade. Who here got their Parade issue 'What People Earn' in Sunday's edition?
This was inspiring and depressing all at the same time. Yeah, I know. I'm weird like that.
Stephanie Meyer: 50 million
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Ellen DeGeneres: 35 million
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Johnny Depp: 25 million
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Jay Leno: 32 million
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James Cameron: 50 million
seriously? Stephanie Meyer made more that Ellen DeGeneres? And Johnny Depp? And Jay Leno? She made as much as James Cameron .... of Avatar fame?!?
Wow. that's all I can say. wow.
what did you say? you want to know how much I made last year?
erm.. enough to buy Stephanie lunch. If we went somewhere simple like Olive Garden or the cute little Thai place down the street. And, if I could use my 'Happenings' two for one coupon.
Do you think she'd go with me? Maybe share some trade secrets?
I'd let her get refills on her drink and maybe offer to split a dessert....
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42 comments:
Yikes.
She started out small, so do we all. Stephanie just got lucky to hit the jackpot, as did JK Rowling.
As for my earnings from writing...a nice round figure: 0.
Wow - that's awesome that she made that much. Nice to know that an author can beat movie and t.v. stars.
Gee, thanks for the depressing news first thing in the morning! Ha! At least she got rejected a few times before someone accepted her manuscript. There's hope for all writers. Maybe not $50 Million worth of hope, but still . . .
S
I'm happy for Stephenie Meyer. In fact I want to be just like her;) Don't worry. I won't tell that to any prospective agents.
I like Stephanie Meyer too. But I would definitely make her buy me lunch. And tell me dirty stories about Edward.
I guess on the bright side, the possibility is there for every author, right? With a Name Like Love could become the next Twilight, right? Right? No one knew she was going to be this huge writer superstar. She was just a person writing a story that readers loved. And that's possible for any of us. No one knows what the next big thing will be. I could be you, Tess! Really!!
Good points, all of these, and I am totally happy for Stephanie. Why not? It does give us hope .. but, at the same time, it make me kind of depressed. Weird, I know.
Well, you earned more than me. My earnings would be a nice round goose egg. Unless you count concert tickets, silly DVD's or other radio prizes. But seriously? 50 million? Was JK Rowling on that list?
Wow. That's about all I can say.
And yeah, Steph should pick up the tab.
Shelley
I think the positive thing to point out here is the list is topped by a WRITER. Not a movie star, not a celebutante, but a writer.
And Tess, it does give hope (and I'm torn between that and depression right now) but there is a positive here, right? Books are important, even if people end up just seeing the movie, all that was a little sparkly story that came out of someone's head. And we all have loads and loads of sparkly stories in our heads to share! ;)
I think Stephenie Meyer would be lucky to go to lunch with you. And if she didn't want to go, I would beat her up with my stack of rejection letters.
For me, last year was only the second year I've earned anything from writing. I had one short story published and one contest win for a grand total of $40. :) And my postage expenses were way more than that. {sigh}
Wow, that's um. . a lot! I love both Stephenie and JK and I don't think it was luck at all. They worked hard and were talented. Especially JK Rowling, she's just amazing and she deserves everything she's earned. She also donates lots back to worthy charities.
Anywho, let's just let it inspire us huh? ;) No need to despair, we'll get there someday. Maybe not 50 million but still we'll make it :)
I don't think Stephanie would pass up the bottomless salad bowl.
Whoa! Proof that people do still buy books!
I don't even want to think about how much (or how little) I made last year. Ouch!
A.maz.ing.
And that's why most people think you strike it rich the minute you get a book published ... because of the handful of people who manage to do it!
Just for the record, Tess, I don't even make enough to take anyone out to lunch. I'm a $0 on our tax forms at the moment. lol But that's okay. Thankfully we don't have to find our worth in dollar signs.
Amy
Those numbers just make my head spin but just wanted to say that it's been years since I've been to Zion but loved the time I had there!
Wow. That's amazing. I'm pretty shocked. Good for her! (Someday you'll be a millionaire too!)
Stephenie would be silly to pass up a meal with you!
And Zion! That's perhaps priceless. Or is it having your feet up afterward?!
Tess, I'll say it, I'm depressed.
That is great news. Wouldn't it be fun to have lunch w/Steph and split a dessert! That could be a fun blog/journaling question: Who would like to have lunch with? What do you think you'd talk about.
Wow. That is a lot!
I made the same round figure--0. :0)
Hey, you may get to go to lunch with Stephanie sometime! Your book will be big. :)
I was surprised Taylor Swift didn't make more. I think hers was 17 million. I wasn't surprised at all about Meyer. I think it's great. Did you see the Facebook guy? 25 years old and something in the BILLIONS.
Wow. That's all I can say. Wow.
Wow - Stephenie Meyer makes twice as much as Johhby Depp! Guess we picked the right business! :)
I saw that too! I looked at every one of them. I found it interesting too. But the young CEO of FaceBook was the one that got me. LOL
Wow it just shows acting isn't the only thing that pays!
I think she just needs a better accountant. The others probably made more than her, they just aren't paying taxes on it. I noticed that Snookie of Jersey Shore fame had something like $2,000 listed as her annual earnings when I know from folks in the area that she gets paid something like $10,000 just to make an appearance at a night club.
If I were her, I'd go with you. You're one cool girl!
I made $100 from writing last year, minus a $1.50 paypal charge. :) I was pretty excited about it. I made a copy of my check and turned in a copy to my tax guy. My goal for 2010 is to make $101. :) So far, I have one publication coming up, but no money it's for the MO SCBWI newsletter. Be happy, love what you are doing...
Holy shiz-nizbit. That's a LOT of money. Hey, if Stephanie doesn't go to lunch with you, I will! ;)
Are you sure that wasn't a typo? I'm so confused!!! I had NO IDEA! (Sorry to shout here, but everyone else in my home is asleep right now & I've got to tell someone! This is nuts!)
But, OK, (breathing now)...what this does mean is that whatever monetary heights Steph has reached, means, it is possible (I know, a stretch, but still, PoSiSiBlE!) for any one of us writers to get there, too.
PS: I think I sat next to Steph in English classes while an undergrad @ BYU. She graduated just a year after me, I think. CrAzY!!!
PPS: One last thought: Not that I'd even have a clue what to do with $50 mil. :)
I never want to begrudge people success, but I do wonder sometimes at the inequity. When you look at those lists, there are always the teachers and firefighters and other regular folk making around $50,000 or something. It just doesn't feel right to me. I can only hope that anyone making millions (or, shudder, billions) is pumping a lot into charitable work.
Abrupt shift here: I love Zion. What a gorgeous place to hike. I hope it was wonderful.
Great, people do still buy books :)
Marinela x x
In the context of that group, it blows me away.
And I think *The Steph* would go for it... if you offer her the coconut sticky rice and mangoes. Tell her to stop by Flagstaff on her way home and I'll buy her dinner.
I guess this discussion makes me realize the value we, as a society, place on entertainment. Good thing writing falls into that category! I raise my glass to Stephanie ... it SHOULD be a writer at the top of that list .. why not? :)
I agree with some pp'ers...yay for the top slot being a writer!!!
Man, I wish! It's actually quite comforting to me to know that some authors do so well...I'm glad they're getting rewarded for words instead of TV! :)
So interesting. Good for Steph. I think authors SHOULD make more than TV personalities. Don't get me wrong I love Ellen but I gotta cheer for my fav business. :)
Tess, that's an eye opener! Tell ya what, I'll meet you at Olive Garden and we'll split it.
You are so funny! I read the Parade also. It's interesting to say the least.
Olive Garden sounds really yummy right now...
Shame on you!
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