Mr. Ding of Ding Ding Bookstore continued to introduce: "The conditions given by the four major publishers are relatively different. The conditions given by the French Larus Publishing House and the German Bessmann Publishing Group are almost the same. The royalties are 8%, but the period of publication authorization is different. The two publishing houses wanted indefinite authorization at the beginning. The reason given was that many domestic works were authorized indefinitely, following the old rules, but we did not agree. After several rounds of negotiations, the German Bessmann Publishing Group required an 8-year authorization period. The Larus Publishing House was the most willing. After my bargaining with Mr. Zhang, the other party was willing to limit the authorization period to 5 years."

The so-called royalties do not refer to the tax paid by the author, but the proportion of income that the author can get. The book sales x unit price x royalties are the income allocated to the author. The author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's author's authorization period is the period when the author grants the printing and publishing rights to the publishing house. Once the period reaches, the copyright will return to the author's hands. If the publisher still wants it, it must negotiate with the author. The so-called indefinite authorization is actually a one-time buyout. At present, many works in China are taking this path, especially when publishing overseas. Because the author is at a disadvantage, it is easy to be suppressed by overseas publishing houses.

Mr. Ding continued: "The French Larus Press also provides another way, that is, the authorization period is shortened to 3 years, but the royalties are reduced accordingly to 5%.

Li Xiang thought to himself that whether it is 5% or 8%, it can be said to be very low. In China, the royalties offered to him by Huaxia Bookstore and Dingding Bookstore are 2o%. However, it cannot be compared directly like this. First, the ratio of 2o% is the highest in China. Secondly, if the works have to go abroad, the royalties for overseas works will definitely be lower than those given in China, especially for new authors like him, because the publishing house has to spend more energy on promoting the author and new books.

Li Xiang just heard Gu Qijing say that the highest royalty that domestic writers can get abroad is 15%, which is an example. For example, Feng Jixin, editor-in-chief of "Time", his long novel "Golden Rose". Yang Kun, vice chairman of Shengjing Writers Association, is an old man who writes fairy tales, and he also gets a 15% royalty. He is even more awesome than Feng Jixin, because almost everyone who publishes overseas receives the highest royalty. Overseas, his fairy tale books are very popular and are a typical example of flowers blooming on the wall and fragrant outside the wall.

Li Xiang thought happily, and there was no emotion on his face. He asked without any objection: "What about the other two?"

Mr. Ding said: "The other two companies, Hill Publishing Group and McGraw Publishing House, are very troublesome. The other party insists that the authorization period starts from 10 years, and the royalty rate is only 5%. Our opinion is to give up the North American market first and build the European market first. If the sales performance is good, they will naturally relax their conditions. Now the other party is very determined and refuses to give in. We will suffer a loss when talking like this. It is recommended to ease it."

Gu Qijing asked: "Is it impossible to bypass these two publishing houses and find another North American cooperative agent?"

Mr. Ding said: "These two companies are among the best publishers in North America. They do have the strength to operate "The Old Man and the Sea". They are also very capable not only in North America, but also in the South American market. If one of them is finalized, we don't need to find another market in the South American market, just agents to them directly. In addition, if you look for other publishers, the other party may not necessarily give better conditions, and I think the other party may not necessarily risk offending these two publishers to take over our business."

Gu Qijing asked: "Capital market, pursue profits, make money, and other publishing societies are not moved?"

Mr. Ding said: "We all know the 28th Law. This law is also applicable to books and products. Best-selling books account for about 20% of them in a certain publishing house or the overall publishing industry. That is to say, 80% of books cannot make money. To put it bluntly, please don't be surprised by Li Xiang. For foreign readers, they don't know who Li Xiang is, and your fame will not be added. For publishers, "The Old Man and the Sea" is just a very good book, which is not equal to the sales volume, and there are many works that are well-known but not popular. Therefore, for publishers, "The Old Man and the Sea" may be an ordinary work, and you must be prepared to not make money. Based on this judgment, it is unlikely that the publishers will risk offending the two major publishers. Another important point is that they will not give better conditions."

After listening to it, Li Xiang said, "I don't understand the book market very much. I know something when I listen to your lecture. After all, we must first calm our mindset and don't think that "The Old Man and the Sea" sells well in China and can become a popular abroad. Regardless of whether the publicity resources are provided enough, the habits and hobbies of people of different nationalities are very different. They are popular in China, and no one may like them when they come to France and cannot understand them."

"I agree with Mr. Ding's statement. Let's put the North American market first and look at the European market. I am very confident in "The Old Man and the Sea."

Of course, Li Xiang had confidence in this book. Is there a story or a language style more suitable for Westerners. After all, this is originally a Western book.

"As for choosing the French Larus Publishing House or the German Besmann Publishing Group, I personally prefer Larus. Their second method is authorized for 3 years and the royalty is 5%.

Mr. Ding said: "In fact, there is not much difference between 3 years and 5 years. It is better to authorize 5 years and get 8% of the royalties."

Li Xiang said: "I want to do this, and talk to Larus Press to pre-sale for one month based on the three-year 5% condition. Now it is January, and at the end of November, I remember that there is a Goncourt Award in France. If "The Old Man and the Sea" can be nominated, I require the royalty to be increased from 5% to 10%; if "The Old Man and the Sea" can win the award, I require the royalty to be increased from 10% to 15%. If these cannot be done, but if the sales volume for pre-sale reaches a value, such as 20,000 copies, then the conditions refer to what I just mentioned. If both conditions are met, then the royalty to be increased to 20%.

Not long ago, Li Xiang chatted with Bai Su, Wang Hongxiang and Gong Fangfang. At that time, Bai Su mentioned that Li Xiang would launch his translated works as soon as possible so that he could catch up with this year's award selection. Most of these awards were selected in March and April next year, while only the French Gongoll Award was special, and its selection time was at the end of November.

If you are now in "The Old Man and the Sea", you can chase the Gongoll Prize. There are not only the Nobel Prize in the world, but many other awards are equally honorable. For example, the Gongoll Prize in France is the highest award in France and is also among the highest honors around the world.

Everyone present is publishing, and they are naturally familiar with the French Goncourt Award. As soon as Li Xiang finished speaking, they were stunned. "The Old Man and the Sea" is an excellent work. Now domestic public opinion is speculating that most of the people who support this book can win this year's Purple Gold Award.

However, it is too difficult to win overseas awards such as such a book, especially the Goncourt Award, which is extremely honorable. It is often not a matter of the quality of the work.

Mr. Ding hesitated for a moment and finally said, "Okay, then let's continue talking according to this."

Li Xiang smiled and said, "It's up to people, no one is sure. There are only two situations. Either the grades are worse than what I thought or better."
Chapter completed!