If you target a publisher direct, and miss out on the agent partnership, is that the end of the line? If there is no agent to sell translation rights or film/tv rights, does the author have to take up this role, or would the publisher help out? I suppose one answer is to get an agent following your publishing deal, but say you didn't. What happens then?

Colin M

I would guess it depends on the publisher. If they have their own contacts in other countries, they’ll go with them, but you would have to negotiate whatever deal you can get out of them and, without experience in the market, you could lose out.

I believe that publishers prefer to deal through agents so, if you were signed up by a publisher, they might refer you to an agent. On the other hand, they might just screw you down with an unfavourable deal.

Not much help… sorry.

Dee

I think you best bet is to accidentally become friends with the publishers, first, then let them see you manuscript.

Sorry - went off track, but couldn't resist. But, I mean what I said.

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erm - your best bet

<Added>

and your manuscript

Most publishers are getting ever more determined to buy subsidiary rights (book club, audio book, large print... it all adds up) and translations rights as part of the main deal, whether direct from you or via an agent. If you don't have an agent you really, really need to check out the details of the contract with the Society of Authors. I don't think (but don't quote me) that all or even most publishers are equipped to sell film rights, and it's a very tricky, specialist area.

It's a perfectly know thing to approach an agent whose client you'd like to be after you've been offered a deal. They may even wangle you a better one, and they'll give you confidence that the contract's okay. As well as sub rights and translation rights, they'll have someone in house or at a specialist agency to handle film rights. (well, we can all dream, can't we...)

Emma

I only mention film and TV rights because I know it's a bit more complicated, yet Caroline Sheldon goes down that avenue even if the book isn't suited to film or TV. I guess it's because the film companies are so wary of missing the next big thing it means nothing to shell out a few grand to net a potential hit when they pay double that for an A-list actor to do a cameo appearance.

There was an agent on the tele last night, just a three minute thing, wearing lots of red, even though she was surrounded by mud and muddy people with wellies. Might have been Caroline Mitchel - I only just caught it.