No, we didn't. Why? Because when it comes to these things, the author is ALWAYS the last to know. (And apparently her agent, too.) We only found out about it on the Royalty Statement.
Despite that negativity, the cover for the book is actually very cute. In some ways, it's better than some of the covers my primary publisher has been giving me. (See last week's semi rant.) It's sort of Manga, but very true to the description of Haven't Got a Clue. Miss Marple better resembles the cat in the book. (It was only when I contacted the artist for my US covers and gave her pictures of Miss Marple that she has been portrayed correctly, and she's done a marvelous job considering the very few good pictures I have of my dear girl Cori.) Mind you, I have no problem with the quality of the art on my original covers. I'm lucky to have the supremely talented Teresa Fasolino do them. Unfortunately, she MUST do what the Marketing Department tells her to do. (Including garish colors.)
I'm actually quite thrilled to say a book of mine has been translated into another language. And Japanese books are so cool. They read from right to left and in columns--so different than us westerners.
I'm pretty sure that the Japanese publisher came to us and not the other way around. After all, the series has been around since 2008 and and this is the first foreign sale. (Do you think Janet Evanovich waits that long?) I'd much rather be able to say "Translated into 20 languages" than "Translated into ONE language."
I just hope more foreign publishers find the series and say, "I'd love to bring this series to our readers."
Well, a girl can dream.
Maybe your agent should contact foreign publishers and shop your series or does your publisher not allow that?
ReplyDeleteIt depends on the series. Penguin owns the foreign rights to the Booktown series. They can't be bothered to go after foreign rights because they don't make enough money at it. If someone comes to them, they're happy to take the money.
ReplyDeleteMy agent has been shopping the foreign rights for the Jeff Resnick and Victoria Square series (which I own), and it's difficult. Actually, most US agents just farm out that task to other agents (even less $$$ for the author). In the future, things will change and writers may just have an agent for foreign rights and one for US rights. Or None At All. Some authors with contract savvy are going to London and Frankfort and selling their own foreign rights and making a bundle.
Congratulations! This is indeed good news. I just finished Murder on the Half Shelf and loved it :)
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