Huge in Finland

As two authors who have worked in publishing, we thought we knew everything there was to know about the business of books. But the folly known as foreign rights sales for our second book, The Girl’s Guide to Being a Boss Without Being a Bitch, has proven us wrong. The experiences we’ve had with 11 international publishers have given us a hilarious and thrilling education. We were surprised by which countries wanted us and which ones didn’t. We were confused by the wide range of advances and the different attitudes toward the word “bitch.” And we were flattered and occasionally humiliated when we saw the foreign editions’ jacket art. We hope this snapshot of our experience will help other foreign rights newbies navigate international publishing waters.

The Territories

We thought our first book, The Girl’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business, was going to be a slam dunk in other countries (in retrospect, we’re not sure why we thought this), but we actually didn’t get one offer. So by our second book we had no expectations of selling anywhere else. Imagine our surprise when Croatia came calling with an offer based on just the proposal. Right behind them were offers from Russia and Poland. Apparently there are lots of bitchy bosses roaming the former eastern bloc.

The international calls kept coming: Brazil, Finland, France, Korea, the Netherlands and Taiwan all wanted us. The British market was tough to crack, but eventually we landed with a great house. Surprisingly (to us), Japan isn’t interested. Are there no female bosses in the land of the Rising Sun who could use management advice delivered with a sense of humor?

The Advances

Over the years, when we’ve read in PW about an author who has been published all over the world, we’ve always thought, “Wow, they must be raking it in!” Now we know that’s not necessarily true. Our second book is going to be published in 11 countries, in 10 languages, and the only thing we’re raking in are the leaves in the fall. Evidently, $400 is an excellent offer from Croatia. Not all the countries came in that low—there were even a few four-figure advances—but for now, don’t think we’re being cheap when we don’t pick up the check at lunch.

The Marketplace

Selling international rights also gave us an education in how—and where—people buy books around the world. Our favorite e-mail over the past year came from a publisher that told us its major distribution channel was convenience stores. Who knew that in addition to road atlases and beef jerky, business books are a popular purchase at 7-Elevens abroad?

The Jackets

Nothing about the process of selling in different markets has made us laugh (and sometimes cringe) more than seeing the international book jackets. Finland’s was amazing, akin to a 1968 James Bond movie poster. It showed the silhouette of a woman with horns, holding a clipboard that looks like an Uzi. The U.K. publisher decided to go retro and feminine, and even took the word “bitch” out of the title. But our favorite jacket so far comes from France. It sports a black leather stiletto boot with a knife tucked into its side. It’s everything we hoped a jacket in a Paris bookstore window would be.

Because of our ignorance when it comes to foreign rights, every phone call, contract, e-mail, finished book and media inquiry has been a lesson—and a blast. Kim was on vacation recently in the Bahamas and met a family from Finland who treated her like a celebrity when they found out she authored Hyvä Pomo, aka “Good Boss.”

Take it from us, foreign rights novices: you have no idea where this part of the publishing process is going to take you, so it’s best not to have any expectations. And if you do become an internationally published author, accept that it may not change your life to have books all over the world, but you’ll at least have some great stories for your next dinner party.