Everything about publishing was unheard of for Tom and Cherry, so the impact didn’t really sink in.
They still lived in the same house and drove the same car. They still went to work every day for the railroad, and Tom still hated it.
Cherry had been promoted again. They were talking about getting pregnant. They were talking about getting a dog.
Tom had gotten twenty thousand dollars for the firstThursdaybook, and they’d used it to pay off their credit cards. There’d be royalties eventually, but not for six months, and even then the royaltieswould be held back against returns. Tom didn’t know what that meant. Tom didn’t know how many books had sold exactly or how much he got from each sale.
Cherry’s sisters all bought the book. Or said they did. Cherry told them that she didn’t want to talk about it. She was sure they started a new group thread without her.
Some of their Western Alliance coworkers bought the book, but it didn’t seem like they were actually reading it.
The local library wanted Tom to give a speech. He said no.
His publisher wanted him to go on a promotional tour. He said no.
But then Charlie, his agent—Tom had an agent now—said that he was contractually obligated to promote the book, within reason. No one could say what “within reason” meant.
Tom really,reallyhated his job at the ad agency. Cherry encouraged him to take a month off and go on tour.
Tom didn’t want to. “What will I even talk about?”
“The comic. The characters.”
“There’s nothing to say—everything I had to say is alreadyinthe book.”
“Talk about your process.”
“I sit at a computer.”
“Just be handsome and funny and sign books.”
“So now you’re asking me to become a different person...”
“You’re very handsome and very funny, Tom.”
“To you. Maybe.”
“To me, definitely.”
“I don’t want to do this, Cherry.”
“How do you know? You’ve never done anything like this. Let them pay for you to see the country. Stay in nice hotels. Try regional takes on eggs Benedict. Visit comic book stores.”
“You’re making it sound like a vacation.”
“Itis.”
“If it was a vacation, you’d come with me.”
Tom’s bookstore events sold out, so they moved him into bigger venues. Into theaters and community centers. He did readings fromThursday; they were apparently hilarious.Voxdid a piece on him, but Tom wouldn’t comment. ThenThe Atlanticcalled, and Charlie the agent and Ophelia the editor and Rachel the publicist—she was new—madehim comment.
A production company wanted to option the first three volumes ofThursdayfor film.
(Tom’s publisher had decided to releasesixvolumes, one every six months. They were already rereleasing the first book in hardcover. Tom was doing new art for a boxed set.)
This production company was top of the heap, according to Andrea, Tom’s new film agent. It was the kind of place that cranked out Oscar bait. Though Tom could also make a deal directly with Amazon or Netflix...
Every time that Andrea called, Tom would leave his cell phone in the house and go for a bike ride. Or out to the yard. Or to walk their new puppy.
