How I Became a NYT Bestselling Author (And How I Plan To Do It Again)

A Literal Literary Loser Plots a Win

I am a New York Times bestselling author. For realz! For two weeks in 2006, a book I wrote was #3 on the NYT bestsellers list, as well as USA Today and a few other ones.

How did I do it?

Soap opera fans.

The book in question was “Oakdale Confidential.” I wrote it. But when it was featured on the soap opera “As the World Turns” as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the author was revealed to be one (fictional) Katie Peretti (Terri Conn)… that is, after beloved matriarch Nancy Hughes (Helen Wagner) pretended to be the scandalous tome’s creator, to take the heat off Katie. (That’s Terri, Helen and I at a B&N signing to promote “our” book in the photo illustrating this column.)

I went on to write two more soap opera tie-ins, “Jonathan’s Story” (“Guiding Light”), and “The Man From Oakdale,” which also did quite well.

Whom do I attribute my success to? Soap opera fans.

Were the books I wrote good? I think so. Would they have sold in the numbers they did if they didn’t have the support of soap opera fans behind them. I think not.

I have written 17 other books which I also think are quite good. But none of them sold as well as my soap opera tie-ins.

My 20th book, “Go On Pretending,” will be officially released on May 1, 2025. (That’s THIS Thursday!)

Part One takes place in the 1950s, on the set of “The Guiding Light” and features familiar soap faces like Irna Phillips, Agnes Nixon, Theo Goetz (Papa Bauer), Charita Bauer (Bert Bauer) and more.

I hope soap fans will like it. I hope soap fans will support it. I hope soap fans will buy it.

Because if there is one thing I’ve learned about working in the land of daytime drama for over 30 years, it’s that soap fans are the most loyal. If they loved you once, they love you forever. They can forgive minor missteps and major blunders. They have to. When you watch a show for decades, there are going to be winners… and there are going to be clunkers. There will be characters you love, characters you love to hate, and characters you just plain old hate and wish to never see darken your screen again. And yet, you stick with it. Because being a soap fan means being ride or die.

“Another World” was cancelled in 1999 after 35 years on the air. But when I launched “Another World Today,” the officially sanctioned, mixed media continuation of the show in 2009, the fans came back to follow it.

Just like “Days of our Lives” fans followed their stories from NBC to Peacock. And “Beyond the Gates” debuted strong this past February.

Soap fans are a force to be reckoned with! Which is why there is no one else I would rather celebrate “Go On Pretending’s” official May 1, 2025 debut with than you all in The Locher Room, the ultimate soap opera streaming show!

Please join me and Alan Locher this Thursday to discuss all things soap at the link below!