Selling foreign book rights

If youre selling into india or china or another pirate haven dont. How dropcap sells foreign language rights dropcap rights agency. It shows writers the best ways to reach decisionmakers in various industries, what these rightsbuyers are looking for, and what to expect in negotiating a license or sale of rights. How does one sell rights in the international marketplace. Dec 16, 2018 whoever your book publisherwhether a traditional publisher or a selfpublishing servicethe book contract you sign with them should cover the amount of the book rights sale proceeds that you, the author, would be entitled to if the publisher is successful in selling the film, translation or any other rights. Apr 15, 2020 in this interview, hal elrod and chandler bolt talk about how hal turned his book the miracle morning into a series. Foreign book rights, creating a books series, and selling out. Although the book didnt take book expo by storm as i somehow thought it would it received interest from and i sold translation rights to publishers in mexico, poland and nigeria. Written by an international foreign rights expert, this useful book provides the information you need so your book can be translated or sold into additional english language markets. It shows writers the best ways to reach decisionmakers in various industries, what these rightsbuyers are looking for. Place your book in front of s of international book right buyers, selling the foreign rights to your books can be a lucrative business. It requires preparation and planning for a publisher to meet, negotiate and execute a deal at the frankfurt book faire. Place your book in front of thousands of international book right buyers and grow your income streams.

We have sold foreign rights to thousands of publishers in over two dozen countries. These book fairs are essential for publishers and agents foreign rights business. If your book has sold only ten copies in its home market, foreign publishers will see it as much riskier than if your book has sold 2,000 copies. Nonetheless, i can share this with authors who want to sell the foreign rights to their books. Buying book rights growing the list of books you publish goes a long way in generating revenue.

At dropcap, we rely on two powerful tools to sell our publishers books to global rights buyers. Intellectual property policy for sellers amazon seller central. In addition, we have had great success in selling rights of fiction and nonfiction books in asia, the middle east, and europe to name a few. Violating this policy may result in loss of selling. Since im in the uk, lets assume youve sold your book to a uk publisher, but it works in much the same way anywhere. This practical stepbystep guide shows you everything you need to know about selling or buying foreign rights. Selling foreign rights abroad bookends literary agency. This is the largest book fair in the world for buying and selling foreign rights and establishing partnerships. Oct 03, 2017 selling foreign rights of your book can provide you with a new revenue stream, putting local versions of your title into the hands of readers all around the world. Usually specialist rights sales staff within publishing houses they will have detailed and direct knowledge of their own publications subagents may also represent titles from major foreign trade publishers, but they will be handling rights in books from many different publishers. Fortunately, the frankfurt book faire is coming october 48, 2006.

How dropcap sells foreign language rights dropcap rights. In this interview, hal elrod and chandler bolt talk about how hal turned his book the miracle morning into a series. My books have now been published in 29 countries in 22 languages as a result of my efforts in selling foreign book rights. Publishers would sell more foreign rights if they just took the. They work on commission, so will be seeking the best deals.

How authors sell publishing rights with orna ross the. Meetings are arranged with acquisitions editors at publishing houses, at which new projects are pitched, and new potential publisher customers can be discovered. How to get a publisher to publish a book overseas career trend. Writing right american society of authors and writers. Nov 18, 2015 the big traditional publishers often promote their books by highlighting the number of languages the books has been translated into. The advance is usually deducted from future royalties. You must comply with all federal, state, and local laws and amazon policies applicable to your products and product listings. May 31, 2015 most experienced publishing professionals will tell you that you should never ever sign over all your books licensing rights. By having your book translated into other languages, more people will benefit from your message, you will gain a new profit center and the sale counts as an endorsement. In this article, we look at how to a book, including some of the rights to his work that an author can sell to a publisher. The territory tends to be the place of origin for the publisher making the offer. Today i talk to orna ross about how authors sell publishing rights. If you have licensed your foreign rights to a publisher, the publisher usually markets your foreign rights through a foreign agent or at international book fairs e. Aimed at authors, publishers, foreign rights managers, literary agents, and even those aspiring to enter the foreign rights field, foreign rights and wrongs goes beyond just describing the dos and donts of selling or buying rights by providing possible contacts, checklists, worksheets, selfquizzes, and informative examples to facilitate.

Content must be relevant to appeal to foreign publishers and agents. Jan 10, 2014 the idea of selling all territorial rights to a publisher is a good one in some cases. The big traditional publishers often promote their books by highlighting the number of languages the books has been translated into. How to buy the rights to a book with pictures wikihow. Jun 25, 2019 selling the film rights increases the chances of a bookthat might not have been picked up otherwisegetting picked up in a foreign translation deal. Get an agent to sell your rights to foreign publishers who will translate and sell your book.

Authors who have retained translation rights for their books may submit their book to a foreign rights agent or publishers may commission a foreign rights agent to represent the publishers catalog, or collection of titles. This report also includes a sample foreign rights contract. Hungary for hungarian rights, ukcommonwealth for a uk publisher buying from a canadian publisher, etc. With the goal of making a difference and helping bring peace into relationships, i decided to try selling the book in other countries. If an agent believes money can be made from your book, he or she will work for you on a commission basis, usually 20% of advances and subsequent royalties in foreign markets. And, of course, if the project makes it to the screen, it can really positively affect book sales, which is the goal of every author and publisher. Selling foreign rights around the world independent publisher. Elliott talked about the three major advantages of selling in foreign markets. Over the years i have negotiated over 111 book deals with foreign publishers without using a north american foreign rights agent. Coagents selling foreign rights for books 2 seas agency. Selling foreign rights of your book can provide you with a new revenue stream, putting local versions of your title into the hands of readers all around the world. Sometimes, a publisher has a strong presence in all the major english language markets, and it makes sense to sell world english. Whoever your book publisherwhether a traditional publisher or a selfpublishing servicethe book contract you sign with them should cover the amount of the book rights sale proceeds that you, the author, would be entitled to if the publisher.

The money is, of course, split 5050 with the author, if youre talking about us publishers and books. Keep in mind that some of this may differ if you are self. What authors need to know september 21, 2014 february 15, 2017 rachel rueben last week, i discussed how to get your selfpublished book translated using various techniques from hiring contractors to using a royalty splitting website. There are several reasons to sell foreign, or translation, rights of your book into other languages. Once youve written a book, there are many ways you can deliver it to the world. This policy provides an overview of intellectual property ip rights and some common ip concerns that might arise when selling on amazon. He also talked about pitfalls to avoid when negotiating foreign publishing rights contracts. Foreign languageterritory rights are publication rights for a book in another language andor geographic territory. Foreign rights trident media group literary agency. Get lots of agents to sell your rights to foreign publishers who will translate and sell your book. Dec 16, 2015 while you must be wildly successful to sell merchandising or franchise rights, even a little success can go a long way when pitching foreign rights or language rights. How to find the right international markets for your book. Let your book go beyond geographic boundaries and make it a global phenomenon.

Selling the foreign rights can be a lucrative business. Authors, pro tips on how to sell the rights to your book. Sep 21, 2014 selling your foreign licensing rights. This report also includes a sample foreign distribution contract. Outline your sales to date and any other rights sales, such as audio, ebook or screenplay rights. Many authors have found that selling foreign rights to their book is a nifty way to diversify and expand revenue, often with little upfront cost.

Although the book didnt take book expo by storm as i somehow thought it would it received interest from and i sold translation. Bookventures international book rights is a specialty marketing service that will help you sell your book rights to foreign publishers by showcasing it in international book exhibits and making it available on a digital selling platform. While you must be wildly successful to sell merchandising or franchise rights, even a little success can go a long way when pitching foreign rights or language rights. Write a sales pitch email for your book directed at foreign rights agents. For several years now, we have seen the rise of ebooks and online print book sales in the us, followed by the uk, canada, australia and a few other markets. Jan 23, 2014 for several years now, we have seen the rise of ebooks and online print book sales in the us, followed by the uk, canada, australia and a few other markets. Jan 30, 2011 celeste fine, senior vice president and director of subsidiary rights at folio, says. Since im in the uk, lets assume youve sold your book to a uk. Im excited about foreign rights exploitation in 2014 and beyond, both through selfpublishing and signing specific territory deals. If you think your title has potential for overseas distribution, here are some things to remember. My first foreign rights sales occurred as a result of book expo america, where for a small fee, the book was displayed in a coop booth. For foreign rights sales, see my list of literary, foreign, and sub rights agents. How much money do publishers generally get for selling the. Most experienced publishing professionals will tell you that you should never ever sign over all your books licensing rights.

Mar 07, 2016 today i talk to orna ross about how authors sell publishing rights. Celeste fine, senior vice president and director of subsidiary rights at folio, says. Book publishers often offer the author an advance, which is an amount of money. Foreign rights the world is our market with more than 60 years of combined experience in the trade, trident media groups foreign rights department routinely leads the industry in sales of both fiction and nonfiction abroad. How authors sell publishing rights, from the alliance of independent authors alli, helps authors navigate todays complex rights marketplace. Aug 02, 2016 elliott talked about the three major advantages of selling in foreign markets. Foreign rights agents generally receive books for representation in one of two ways. Part of your sales package is a list of the subsidiary rights you have sold. Bookventures international book rights is a specialty marketing service that will help you sell your book rights to foreign publishers by showcasing it in international book exhibits and making it. Selling the film rights increases the chances of a bookthat might not have been picked up otherwisegetting picked up in a foreign translation deal. There are a few avenues for authors to sell foreign rights. Mar 19, 20 book fairs are about selling foreign rights.

Find the network of international publishers, authors. The idea of selling all territorial rights to a publisher is a good one in some cases. With the global publishing marketplace easier to access than ever, selfpublished authors are selling foreign rights to grow their audience around the world and promote the number of foreign rights sales to increase sales at home just like the big publishers. Mar 16, 2017 in this scenario, once the book is sold, the agency is out of the picture in terms of foreign rights. The more general a book is in scope, the more potential for international rights sales. While selling foreign rights for books directly into the english language, france, germany, italy, the netherlands, portugal, and scandinavia, we are supported by a solid network of awesome coagents in the following languages and territories. But until recently, other foreign markets havent really seen much growth in these areas. An indie authors guide to selling foreign rights lifetree. Selling your books internationally jane friedman when it comes to selling your work overseas, there are two channels. There is a growing interest in selling educational book rights as many countries realize the ever growing needs of children. In december 2011, 65 million copies of the series had been sold worldwide. The first is allison olson, who in the course of her career has sold the rights to more than 6,000 titles in 180 languages.