How I Sold the Foreign Rights to a Book of
Quotes Within 4 Hours of Accidentally Sending It
to the Wrong Literary
Agency
One of the great ways to make money from
writing
and self-publishing is to sell foreign right to your
books. I have now negotiated over 105 book deals with
publishers in 28 different countries for my various creative
works.
Below are some of the e-mails that resulted in my
selling
foreign rights to my book
The 777
Best Things Ever Said about
Money to a Japanese
publisher for $8,000 within 4 hours of my accidentally
sending to the wrong literary agent.
----- Original Message -----
From: Ernie Zelinski
To: Miko Y
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005
Subject: The 777 Best Things Ever Said
about Money
Hello Miko:
First, in regards to The 777 Best Things Ever Said
about Money. I sent this to
Manami at the Tuttle-Mori Agency about a week
ago, but she is on holidays. I would like her
to see it.
In the mean time it is okay for
you to show the one publisher The
777 Best Things Ever Said about
Money. But just this one
publisher for now. I would like Manami to see
it since I promised her and I have already
sent it to her but received an out-of-office
e-mail that she is on vacation.
You may also want to show the
publisher visiting you the attached PDF file
for Life's
Secret Handbook for Having Great
Friends. The
Japanese rights for this book are definitely
available. This one you can show to other
publishers as well. It can be modified by
Japanese publishers to suit the Japanese market.
Rights to this book have already been sold to
Spanish and French publishers.
Best regards,
Ernie Zelinski
----- Original Message -----
From: Miko Y
To: Ernie Zelinski
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005
Subject: Re: The 777 Best Things
Ever Said about Money
Dear
Ernie,
I have just had the
meeting with the editor, showed your
materials, and guess what, secured the
pre-emptive offer. Only, they do not want
their offer to be used by another agency
and would like to conclude the deal today
before they go into Summer vacation the
next week. Could you please tell Manami
that discard the books as the deal was
quickly done this time? Please let me
know.
Thanks and best
wishes,
Miko
----- Original Message -----
From: Ernie Zelinski
To: Miko Y
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005
Miko:
I would like to know what the
offer is and who the publisher
is.
I could consider the offer if it
was a good offer. The only reason I can
consider it is because I did not really
promise the book to Manami. (If I had promised
it to her, I would definitely not consider it
because I like to keep my word and maintain my
integrity.)
In fact, I just e-mailed the PDF
to Manami on August 7th asking her whether
Japanese publishers issue quote books and I
got the automatic out-of-office e-mail
response from her that she would be back on
August 15th. I could always offer her the
other book.
So, if the publisher is willing
to let me know what the offer is and you can
let me know the name of the publisher with a
bit of history about it, I can consider it.
However, it has to be a relatively good offer
for me to accept immediately.
Thanks.
Ernie Z.
----- Original Message -----
From: Miko Y
To: Ernie Zelinski
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005
Dear Ernie,
Thank you for your email and I
am glad that you did not promise to Manami and you
have other projects for her. Being agent, we too
are accustomed with these quick deals which
happen. I am sure she would understand without
problem.
The offer is from TRANSWORLD
JAPAN and their terms are as follows:
Format:
Hardcover
Terms:
An advance of US$8,000.oo against royalties of
6% up to 10,000 copies sold
7% up to 20,000 copies sold
8% thereafter
* Terms would be subject
to 20% withholding tax (reducible to 0%
upon
submission of a signed power of attorney form for
tax reduction and Form
6166) and 10% agency commission.
Please know that the book of
quotes are difficult to sell in Japan, and if any,
the average offer is between $4,000-$6,000. Please
know the only book which sold well in this genre
in Japan is THE FAMOUS LAST WORDS and the advance
for the book was $8,000, the same as the above
offer.
TW Japan is one of the most
active publishing houses here. Their president
used to work at big advertisement agency so knows
how to approach broad audience with sophisticated
look. They have been licensing from HarperCollins,
WW Norton and Free Press among big houses in the
US. Believe me, this is going to be the start of
good business relationship with you and TW
Japan.
This is their last day before
the holiday. I look very much forward to having
your decision.
Thank you and best
wishes,
Miko
COPYRIGHT ©
2010 by Ernie J.
Zelinski
Author of the
World's Best Retirement
Book
A Great
Business Promotional
Giveaway
All Rights
Reserved
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