My book was a failure. I won't ever make a penny from it beyond the advance, but it did lead to career opportunities.

Melissa Petro's 2023 book, which received a six-figure advance, sold only 2,000 copies in its first year, failing to meet sales expectations. Despite the financial disappointment, the book led to new career opportunities, such as ghostwriting. Petro reflects on the experience, noting that the book's failure did not prevent professional growth. She acknowledges that she won't earn beyond the advance but values the doors it opened.

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