Congratulations on your deals, Kate—celebrate well!
I wrote unpaid articles on the history of books that appreared in an Australian online magazine read by librarians, teachers, creators and publishing folk—'Pass It On'. When I asked an editor I'd never met for virtual friendship on a social network site, along with acceptance she offered me a project. I guess she'd read the magazine and visited my website. It was for a third of '101 Great Things To Do Before You Grow Up' for Hinkler Books, also published under a different title, and they retain copyright. I chose the Science and Survival sections and sent them illustration ideas by snail mail, and addressed the envelope in calligraphy. And apparently they wanted a book on calligraphy!
I found an agent (now retired) willing to negotiate the calligraphy book contract, again selling copyright, meaning they can use the content for any purpose without extra payment or royalties. The agent wrote into the contract that my name must appear on any spin-off products...and I've lost count of the products since created—at least 6 booklets up to 64 pages added to different pen-set varieties, and another book that also includes work by other authors, each with its own ISBN. The payment was far more than I have made from any later royalty paying deal, the publisher uses my name in all advertising, and all items work for me when I promote my workshops, talks in schools, and business, and for publishing credits when pitching new works in all genres.
Since it's impossible to copyright 'how to write in Italic and Gothic styles', for example, I've still been able to write a new calligraphy book for a different publisher.
Congratulations on your deals, Kate—celebrate well!
I wrote unpaid articles on the history of books that appreared in an Australian online magazine read by librarians, teachers, creators and publishing folk—'Pass It On'. When I asked an editor I'd never met for virtual friendship on a social network site, along with acceptance she offered me a project. I guess she'd read the magazine and visited my website. It was for a third of '101 Great Things To Do Before You Grow Up' for Hinkler Books, also published under a different title, and they retain copyright. I chose the Science and Survival sections and sent them illustration ideas by snail mail, and addressed the envelope in calligraphy. And apparently they wanted a book on calligraphy!
I found an agent (now retired) willing to negotiate the calligraphy book contract, again selling copyright, meaning they can use the content for any purpose without extra payment or royalties. The agent wrote into the contract that my name must appear on any spin-off products...and I've lost count of the products since created—at least 6 booklets up to 64 pages added to different pen-set varieties, and another book that also includes work by other authors, each with its own ISBN. The payment was far more than I have made from any later royalty paying deal, the publisher uses my name in all advertising, and all items work for me when I promote my workshops, talks in schools, and business, and for publishing credits when pitching new works in all genres.
Since it's impossible to copyright 'how to write in Italic and Gothic styles', for example, I've still been able to write a new calligraphy book for a different publisher.
Thank you for the explanation! I had been wondering about this based on what I'd been seeing on Twitter!