Tom Clancy

Deal
$45 million for two books
Based on the success of . . .
Everything he's ever written.
Advance per page*
$42,694
Per word*
$133

Patricia Cornwell

Deal
$16 million for two books
Based on the success of . . .
Kay Scarpetta.
Advance per page*
$21,024
Per word*
$66

Charles Frazier

Deal
$8 million
Based on the success of . . .
Cold Mountain.
Advance per page*
$22,472
Per word*
$70

Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Deal
$3 million for two books
Based on the success of . . .
The dirt-dishing Nanny Diaries.
Advance per page*
$4,261
Per word*
$13 (that's $6.50 per writer)

ZZ Packer

Deal
$300,000
Based on the success of . . .
New Yorker–anointed debuts.
Advance per page*
$1,172
Per word*
$3.66

Zadie Smith

Deal
$400,000 for two books
Based on the success of . . .
An 80-page sample.
Advance per page*
$4,720
Per word*
$1.48

*Rates based on previous books' page counts and an average of 320 words per page.

Related:

• Archive: “Gotham”
• Articles by Boris Kachka
• Table of Contents: December 2, 2002 issue of New York | Subscribe!