Jeanne Darst's story is what happens when everything goes right—and then you realize "right" is more complicated than you thought.
After years of doing plays for 200 people in Vermont, she hit the publishing lottery: a bidding war sparked by a “This American Life” appearance that had publishers hunting her down by the next morning.
Riverhead Books won with serious money, the New York Times loved it, Vogue excerpted it, HBO optioned it and she wrote the pilot. It was the full fantasy—except the show didn't get picked up (Girls was coming out), and she spent the next decade in the Hollywood machine.
Her TV writing career was a success—she got a series of TV staff writing jobs—but her second book, Dad's Trying to Kill Me, couldn't find a publisher (despite glowing rejections). Now she's back to putting on shows while continuing to write, because sometimes the dream coming true teaches you what you actually want.
Episode Highlights:
- How Jeanne's This American Life story triggered a massive publishing bidding war overnight
- The strategic decision to write a proposal instead of submitting a completed manuscript
- Why Jeanne chose Riverhead and editor Sarah McGrath over the highest bidder
- The simultaneous media blitz: book launch, Vogue excerpt, and This American Life feature
- How HBO optioned the book before publication, leading to pilot writing opportunities
- The reality of post-success hustle: why the dream is "just the beginning of heartbreak"
- Jeanne's second book rejection and the lesson about going to small presses
- Why she's returning to grassroots theater after a decade in Hollywood
- The father-daughter dynamic when children outachieve their parents professionally
Key Takeaways:
- Two years of persistence can lead to overnight success
- Agents and gatekeepers are "smart secretaries" - you must drive your own career
- Women wait 8 months to resubmit after rejection; men wait 3 days
- Big advances don't guarantee book tours or sustained marketing support
- Publishers only invest real marketing dollars in books that are already succeeding
- Hollywood packaging deals often benefit agencies more than the writers themselves
- Complete projects teach more than abandoned ones - finish what you start
- Traditional publishing success requires constant self-advocacy and hustle
- Family reactions to memoirs can be complicated, especially around professional jealousy
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.