J. Paul Waymack
J. Paul Waymack turned an interesting career into a hilarious book.
Paul kept notes during a long, exciting career as a burn surgeon. He turned these notes into a darkly humorous manuscript. Multiple publishing houses rejected it. He was told in no uncertain terms that this book would never sell.
A colleague read the manuscript, thought it could do with some editing, and told Paul he knew someone who could make it a bestseller. Writing Nights had previously collaborated with his wife, a Stanford-educated attorney and editor, to produce two best-selling books.
Well, Doc was edited into saleable shape and placed with an imprint. However, initial results were dissatisfactory.
We approached the manuscript with our trademark, uncompromising, data-driven process—as a market problem that could be solved. The book was reworked, new cover and another round of editing to address pacing, and then submitted to Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly. This version was an immediate hit.
Kirkus said, "An often funny, sometimes disturbing, and always engaging remembrance."
Publisher's Weekly said, "A sidesplitting medical memoir, alive with smart comedy and commentary."
The book rocketed to the top of Business and Professional Humor and Doctors and Medicine Humor, and stayed there for 300 consecutive weeks. Editors at Amazon regularly nominate this title for invite-only Kindle Selections.
Fans have left over 3000 reviews on Amazon and 2000 on Goodreads, and the book continues to generate revenue year after year.
Traditional publishing often fails to recognize jewels. Paul follows the same path as Andy Weir and J. K. Rowling.
As always, you are the best.
Well, Doc, It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time! The Unexpected Adventures of a Trauma Surgeon