"I am not a total, complete nitwit when it comes to selling books. I promise you there will be unexpected things. Some of them I don't know yet. She's writing it all herself"
About this Quote
Then she sells the sizzle. “Unexpected things” is classic teaser language, a promise of revelations without the liability of specifics. The canny twist is “Some of them I don’t know yet.” That’s not just spontaneity; it’s a narrative strategy. It frames the project as alive and risky, as if the author is still discovering the story in real time. In a media economy that rewards “authenticity,” uncertainty becomes a credential.
The closer-“She’s writing it all herself”-is the real payload. It’s not about literary purity; it’s about trust. Matalin is laundering credibility through authorship, insisting on a single human voice rather than a ghostwritten product. The pronoun shift to “she” also hints at a behind-the-scenes operator speaking for the star, which makes the assurance feel both necessary and slightly suspicious. The subtext: we know you’re skeptical; here’s the stamp of legitimacy, plus a promise of drama, and yes, we’re going to sell you on it.
Quote Details
| Topic | Sales |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Matalin, Mary. (2026, January 16). I am not a total, complete nitwit when it comes to selling books. I promise you there will be unexpected things. Some of them I don't know yet. She's writing it all herself. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-am-not-a-total-complete-nitwit-when-it-comes-to-103402/
Chicago Style
Matalin, Mary. "I am not a total, complete nitwit when it comes to selling books. I promise you there will be unexpected things. Some of them I don't know yet. She's writing it all herself." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-am-not-a-total-complete-nitwit-when-it-comes-to-103402/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I am not a total, complete nitwit when it comes to selling books. I promise you there will be unexpected things. Some of them I don't know yet. She's writing it all herself." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-am-not-a-total-complete-nitwit-when-it-comes-to-103402/. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.


