Self-publishing is always a viable option. But you could also, if you wanted, lengthen it a bit and submit to novella publishers. The most important part is that you're comfortable and confident with the finished product.
I doubt her regular publisher would feel the need to make any sort of contractual obligations with a client that has made them millions. 1,500 from a "first time" author is very respectable in the first 3-4 months.
1. It can take me anywhere from 6 months for an 85,000 word novel to 4 weeks for a 120,000 one. It depends on how much time I have to write, how much world building/plot-weaving/character development I have to focus on and my overall state of mind when approaching the project tin question.
2...
I was told by my computer screen to introduce myself. Hello.
:)
A bit of bragging, to quell my insecurity:
I've known I wanted to be an author since I was eleven and have been writing fantasy novels since I was thirteen. (Age 20) A couple highlights of my career include: receiving a...