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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