Here's proof of what a movie deal can do for you: Originally, Tropper had sold two books, including Bush Falls, for a "nice" deal (AKA "not a heck of a lot") to Bantam to appear in trade paper.
Then it was optioned in a major deal (more than 500K) to Plan B, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston and Brad Grey's production company. The book became a hardcover as did the rest that followed. It didn't even matter that Plan B folded and so far a movie has not been made.
And since then Tropper has been doing pretty well. You'll see notice of film rights or foreign sales.
Today I read in PW about a bookstore that has managed to sell 2 percent of the paperback of The Book of Joe, another of his books. You can read more here. That's the power of a bookseller who believes in you AND believes in the power of handselling.