Author Lunch

Madeleine Morel of 2M Communications started work as a literary agent/book packager in 1982. Capitalizing on the expertise she’d gained in putting authors and writers together, and recognizing that ‘platform’ was increasingly becoming the buzzword, she decided to exclusively represent ghostwriters who could facilitate books by ‘authors’. She works, on a non-exclusive basis, with over […]

Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger Prior to joining the Authors Guild in November 2014, Mary practiced law for over 25 years in roles that spanned private practice, the government and corporate sector, as a recognized expert in copyright and media law. Could you briefly summarize why a writer should join Authors Guild, especially since so […]

At the antitrust trial, marketing and publicity expenditures were discussed mostly as a way of determining the level of support for Anticipated Top Selling Books (those acquired for $250,000+). While there are exceptions and surprises—the social media influencer whose posts promote the book for free; the modest acquisition that becomes an in-house favorite or hotly […]

Since the Penguin Random House antitrust trial hinged on author advances, witnesses explained publishing contracts, advances, royalties—and when the author sees that money. Agents also broke down how they’re paid. Author Compensation Hachette Book Group ceo Michael Pietsch explained that an author’s contract “includes a grant of rights of the ability to sell it in […]

In the Penguin Random house antitrust trial, agents testified about what happens after the submission process: receiving offers, sometimes in heated auctions for top dollar. Here, we’ve compiled their thoughts on pre-empts and auctions. Ayesha Pande at Ayesha Pande Literary said that her methodology to sell a book “depends on how many editors at different […]