Well I'm starting to rack up blog posts now. I was meant to be posting something about China Mieville's response to Facebook, but other things have intervened, so maybe later…
My agent has just informed me that Macmillan have finally reverted the rights for the two Secret War novels. I feel partly relieved and crestfallen by this - relieved because finally I have control over the books again and my agent can press-on with finding a home for them, but it does feel like getting a letter of divorce after 11 months of separation. It's the conclusion to 5 years of working with Pan Macmillan, specifically Macmillan New Writing, which I have the utmost admiration for. Mike Barnard's baby was inspired and has produced some great writers under his guidance and also under the auspices of Will Atkins, who took over from Mike in 2007. It's been a wonderful exercise in finding talent, with many gems unearthed from what was once considered the "slush pile". But no longer… (yes, Mr McCrum, you read that right…).
Earlier this month, one of Macmillan New Writing's crime authors, Ryan David Jahn got their first literary award (debut Crime Dagger) and many more have been nominated from anything from the Orange Prize to the British Fantasy Society Award for best novel - not bad considering the imprint was only publishing one book a month at its height.
Despite the lack of output recently, Macmillan New Writing and its authors are still going strong and I still consider to be part of that, despite this almost final act in my involvement with the imprint and its parent, Macmillan publishing Ltd. I've learned a helluva lot, and will take all that to my next publisher, whoever that is.
To answer one pressing question, some have queried why I've decided to ask for the reversion of the book rights. Well, this is a good thing, in so far that Macmillan were no longer printing the books and weren't looking to publish the paperback of the Hoard of Mhorrer. It's a good thing because if all else fails, I can publish the Secret War novels via the e-book route that is proving to be quite profitable to some writers, and at a price that benefits myself and agent, and the also reader in terms of retailing the book and return of royalties at a minimum cost to myself. In fact, the timing couldn't be better really.
However, before that happens we'll be exhausting all possible avenues of finding a home with a major or independent publisher, which includes the e-books rights, as well as physical rights. This could take a year or so, so it does mean the Secret War books will be largely unavailable from this month until 2012, maybe longer, so my advice is to get 'em while you can via the Kindle, iBooks, and Waterstones/WHSmith.
Again, thanks to everyone who has got me to this position, including my agent, Dorothy, and my best wishes to all those at Macmillan, including Will, Sophie and Julie.
They were great times indeed, and now with The Black Hours, Purgatory (and other projects!!) I'm looking forward to another exciting era to come...
My agent has just informed me that Macmillan have finally reverted the rights for the two Secret War novels. I feel partly relieved and crestfallen by this - relieved because finally I have control over the books again and my agent can press-on with finding a home for them, but it does feel like getting a letter of divorce after 11 months of separation. It's the conclusion to 5 years of working with Pan Macmillan, specifically Macmillan New Writing, which I have the utmost admiration for. Mike Barnard's baby was inspired and has produced some great writers under his guidance and also under the auspices of Will Atkins, who took over from Mike in 2007. It's been a wonderful exercise in finding talent, with many gems unearthed from what was once considered the "slush pile". But no longer… (yes, Mr McCrum, you read that right…).
Earlier this month, one of Macmillan New Writing's crime authors, Ryan David Jahn got their first literary award (debut Crime Dagger) and many more have been nominated from anything from the Orange Prize to the British Fantasy Society Award for best novel - not bad considering the imprint was only publishing one book a month at its height.
Despite the lack of output recently, Macmillan New Writing and its authors are still going strong and I still consider to be part of that, despite this almost final act in my involvement with the imprint and its parent, Macmillan publishing Ltd. I've learned a helluva lot, and will take all that to my next publisher, whoever that is.
To answer one pressing question, some have queried why I've decided to ask for the reversion of the book rights. Well, this is a good thing, in so far that Macmillan were no longer printing the books and weren't looking to publish the paperback of the Hoard of Mhorrer. It's a good thing because if all else fails, I can publish the Secret War novels via the e-book route that is proving to be quite profitable to some writers, and at a price that benefits myself and agent, and the also reader in terms of retailing the book and return of royalties at a minimum cost to myself. In fact, the timing couldn't be better really.
However, before that happens we'll be exhausting all possible avenues of finding a home with a major or independent publisher, which includes the e-books rights, as well as physical rights. This could take a year or so, so it does mean the Secret War books will be largely unavailable from this month until 2012, maybe longer, so my advice is to get 'em while you can via the Kindle, iBooks, and Waterstones/WHSmith.
Again, thanks to everyone who has got me to this position, including my agent, Dorothy, and my best wishes to all those at Macmillan, including Will, Sophie and Julie.
They were great times indeed, and now with The Black Hours, Purgatory (and other projects!!) I'm looking forward to another exciting era to come...
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9 comments:
Matt, once thepublisher is no longer pimping the books, definitely better for you and your agent to have control of them - and of course it's much easier to interest other publishers if they can have the whole series.
This is a positive step on the road to superstardom!
Hi matt. Does this mean the secret war books won’t be published now? What about the black hours? Does that have a publisher? TIA
Thanks Tim
I think the sale of the series will prove a challenge especially in the current climate, but it's one that my agent is confident of making some progress in (otherwise she wouldn't have taken me on), though it's comforting to know that I do have other opportunities.
I'll be speaking to my agent later in the month to discuss e-book editions etc - but at the moment that side of things is a tricky situation as publishers tend to be quiet hostile to authors self-publishing e-books unless the books have sold thousands and they think they can sell a few more thousand copies. The usual advice from agents is only self-publish e-books as a last resort. But at least it is an attractive resort and could still make mid-list authors some money!
Hi James
The situation regarding the Secret War series is complicated. Publishers don't tend to take on books mid series, but the Secret War books have the advantage that the Hoard of Mhorrer wasn't published in paperback and the Secret War wasn't heavily publicised by the publisher. With a push from myself as well as a new publisher, and possibly a little tinkering with the writing, The Secret War might well find a second life out there. I'll certainly be looking at a more polished edition if I go down the self-publishing e-book route. The Traitor of Light's fate rests largely on what happens with a major publisher. If I land one for the series, it will become the priority, if not then it will be a side-project to the others I'm engaged in right now - but it will be written at some point in the future, as will the Fortress of Black Glass. This is a series I'll be seeing through to the end, I assure you.
The Black Hours is almost complete. One more edit and that should be it and my agent will start sending it around the publishing houses. She may offer it to Macmillan as they are familiar with me, but it's more likely to be one of the other publishing houses, and all that takes time - i.e. setting up contacts, speaking to editors etc so I wouldn't expect the Black Hours to see print for at least another 12 months, maybe longer. Again, once I have news on this I'll let everyone know via the blog. Likewise with the Black Library proposal.
It's an exciting time, rather than an uncertain one for me, and while leaving Macmillan might seem like a backward step, it actually feels like a progression. After all, many established and successful writers leave their first publisher to find greater success elsewhere. Hopefully, the same will occur here.
Matt- your post has a valedictory note! Do please remember that you're still one of us!
Hi Frances
Don't worry, this isn't as final as it sounds. I'm still very much a Macmillan New Writer in spirit. If it wasn't for the upheaval in the day-job I would have attended the London meet, and that's the only thing interfering with my social presence on the net right now. Home life and writing life has the right balance, yet ironically it's the job that preaches a work/life balance that is interfering with all that! Ah well - sure it will all settle down eventually...
You bet you're still one of us, Matt!
One of us? Why, hell, buckaroo, y'all's probably at least two of us.
We're all arriving in this situation at an odd transitional moment. But I have to agree with Tim--you're in a stronger position with the rights all in your own hip pocket.
With your series, I think that other media might be interested, just because of the sheer visual potential. Everybody thinks of movis of course, but I think these would make a killer graphic novel...
Thanks Eliza, thanks David
That's kind of you to say! I must admit that my recent blogging/tweeting/non-writing time has been curtailed lately. Previously, I was spending on average 8 hours a week reading blogs, tweeting and writing my own blog entries, on top of my 10 hours a week actual writing. Due to work and family commitments this has been reduced to around 1 hour a week. I still get a little time to read blogs as I have to today while on the bus (must say, the round-robins on the Macmillan New Writing blog have been fantastic - I particularly found the historical on-line chat as an inspiration while I've done the last layering of historical setting for The Black Hours) but as to writing responses/comments and even blog entries, its been a struggle. I've had to prioritise my writing time and this side of it has lost out big-time. It means other than the occasional tweet, I've "gone dark" with regard to my internet presence. In all honesty, I can't say when normal service will resume, or if this will be "normal service" from now on...
...As for where I am, I do feel like I have more control over my writing at the moment, something I didn't feel last year. You know me... I've always been one to write what I want to write, and last year I felt I had lost some of that control. Having an agent to do the fighting for me is a big step forward and frees me from distractions, and everything's crossed that my agent can do something with those rights, now they've reverted.
As for other media... I've considered this, and I would love to do a graphic novel of the Secret War books, maybe even pen a few spin-off graphic novels (the setting is a broad canvas so it wouldn't be difficult). The problem with this is where to start. I'm hoping that my agent might have a few ideas, as she was certainly involved in the comic-book adaptation of one of her client's books and may have ideas on who to approach and how.
So I have everything crossed though that a) the Secret War books continue and b) they find a new audience in a different media!
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