Soaring Above Rejection: The Inspiring Journey of Author T.J. Newman
From Flight Attendant to Bestselling Author: How Persistence Propelled Newman's Literary Success
"I don't know for sure, but I think there's a very good chance that my entire life just changed.", said T.J. Newman, realizing that her 42'nd attempt to land a literary agent was successful.
Landing an agent is an important milestone, according to "The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published," a book she purchased to teach herself the process.
Well, how else would she do it? She had no idea what the process entailed, no contacts, no publishing experience. She doesn’t even have an English degree.
Growing up in Arizona, T.J. was a voracious reader and started writing stories at an early age. Before attending college, she got bit by the acting bug and decided to pursue musical theater at Illinois Wesleyan University.
After graduating college, she moved to New York to chase her dreams on Broadway. She lived the stereotypical starving artist's life until she called it quits a few years later.
After moving back in with her parents in Arizona, her love of writing was piqued again while working at a local bookstore. Like any aspiring author, she imagined stocking one of HER books on the shelves.
She started writing again. She wrote in secret, believing she'd exhausted all of her creative pursuit credits with her family and friends.
She daydreamed often. While at the bookstore, if she stocked a book from an author with the same last name, she would hide their first name as she put the book on the shelf.
Soon enough, her dreams would manifest into real life.
After working at the bookstore, T.J. decided to pursue a career in aviation as a flight attendant. T.J.'s family referred to it as the "family business" since her mother and grandmother were both flight attendants.
Newman's desire to write stuck with her and grew steadily. In fact, T.J. wrote the first draft of "Falling" on Napkins while working red-eyes as a flight attendant.
She recalls looking back into the quiet cabin and thinking, "Every one of these passengers' lives is at the hands of the pilots.", a somewhat surreal thought that most of us have considered at one point or another. From there, she began to develop a story.
It took 30-some odd drafts and 41 rejections before getting a yes from Shane Salerno, founder and president of The Story Factory, who loved the first two chapters of Newman's manuscript and wanted to read the entire draft. Eventually, this led to a 7-figure, two-book deal with Avid Reader Press, a subsidiary of Simon & Schuster.
Avid published her first book, "Falling," in 2001, which debuted on the New York Times Best-Seller list.
Newman's second book, "Drowning," was published in May 2023.
Incredibly, after a fierce bidding war between major film studios, both books are slated to become feature films.
You may not have any idea who T.J. is. Admittedly, I didn't either. I stumbled on her story while doing research for another project, and like all wholesome success stories, I was intrigued.
Aside from the fact that both books debuted on the NY Times Best Seller List, what's truly remarkable is T.J.'s journey from flight attendant to best-selling author.
It shows the importance of believing in yourself regardless of what the naysayers might tell you.
Some other takeaways:
1. Persistence Pays Off: Newman's 41 rejections show the importance of persistence and not giving up on your dreams, no matter how many times you face rejection.
2. Inspiration Can Come From Anywhere: Newman's ideas for her books came from her experiences as a flight attendant. She used her unique perspective and experiences to create thrilling narratives, proving that inspiration can come from unexpected places.
3. Quietly Pursue Your Dreams: Newman started writing in secret, not telling anyone about her passion due to her fear of failure. Embracing silence helps to protect us while we pursue our dreams.
4. Be Flexible And Adapt: Success isn't a straight path, and we must adapt when obstacles block our way. Newman's story shows the importance of adaptability and openness to new opportunities.
5. The Impact Of Real-Life Experiences: Newman's real-life experiences as a flight attendant provided the backdrop for her novels and added a layer of authenticity to her stories. Your life experiences are your greatest creative asset. It's yet another reason why older writers have a great chance of success.
It might sound cliche, but it's true: we manifest our reality. It starts with your mindset and the body falls in line. Ask yourself, what is your big, hairy, audacious goal?
Are you chasing it? No? Why not?
Every success story results from someone having a dream and the passion and courage to pursue it. Yes, it takes courage and resilience, but what else will you do with your life?
Don't die with regret. Life is happening to you regardless.
You might as well pursue your crazy, impossible dream.