Selling within the English Language Markets

Abstract

I am a British agent, representing mostly non-illustrated trade projects that travel well into other markets and languages. I work for the author, the creator of the material on which every part of our industry relies, and without whom none of us—agents, publishers, distributors, booksellers, printers—would have jobs. As such, I see the author at the heart of any discussion about the way to sell rights. Eight years ago at a Frankfurt Rights Directors’ meeting, speaking on the subject of Territorial rights I said, ‘‘Nothing ever stands still in publishing. And the changes that are now on the horizon for territorial licensing of rights will affect every agent and rights director who wants to represent their authors well, and every publisher who wants to protect the territory they have contracted and paid for.’’ Well, although nothing does ever seem to stand still in our book world, some issues don’t go away. And no discussion about selling rights within the English language can take place these days without mention of Britain’s membership of the European Union.