That's still a really nice advance in these days where debut authors often don't get any advance at all, but I'm not sure I'd have had the courage to leave behind a regular paycheck if I didn't know that a full year's salary was in the bank. (everydayauthor.com)
Innumerable are the tales of authors getting nice advances, having the books disappoint the sales department, getting dropped by their publisher and not being able to find another (or having to go to with small, niche publisher) because of lousy numbers. (killzoneblog.com)
I have an agent, have signed several excellent contracts, have received very nice advances for each of my books, and have found my publisher to be very «professional.» (accrispin.blogspot.ru)