Book Deal

[Teresa Edgerton]

Actually, I've heard of writers who make quite a bit of money optioning and re-optioning the rights to a work of fiction, when the option runs out with no movie being made. This can be a very good deal for the writer: he keeps making money off of something he's already written, and is spared the pain of watching his work badly adapted. Plus, so long as a movie never gets made, the idea remains hot.

[aurelio]

That's true. At least, I've heard that can happen. You just want to make sure the studios don't attach costs, otherwise it gets more and more expensive and cumbersome to re-option as you go.

But... doesn't everyone really want the movie of their book made rather than play that game?

[Mark Robson]

Personally, I´d love to see the book made into a film, but I´m not blind to the idea of selling the film rights for a limited period, then if the film is not made, selling them over again. It makes sense to me.

[rune]

Got any current news for us Mark on your new book(s)

[Mark Robson]

The latest on my new book is that the final script for Imperial Spy has now been approved. The artwork for the new cover is being done by Geoff Taylor - a choice that delighted me, as I knew I'd get a quality result. I should have the cover art available for viewing within the next few weeks. If you search on amazon.co.uk then you will now find a page for Imperial Spy, with a provisional launch date of 3 January. Please feel free to pre-order as many copies as you like!

[rune]

Originally Posted by Mark Urpen

The latest on my new book is that the final script for Imperial Spy has now been approved. The artwork for the new cover is being done by Geoff Taylor - a choice that delighted me, as I knew I'd get a quality result. I should have the cover art available for viewing within the next few weeks. If you search on amazon.co.uk then you will now find a page for Imperial Spy, with a provisional launch date of 3 January. Please feel free to pre-order as many copies as you like!

Good to hear you've got a new project going on Will you have another website set up for the new series?

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by rune

Good to hear you've got a new project going on Will you have another website set up for the new series?

No, but my current website will undergo changes over the coming months, beginning with the change of cover art and backgrounds and working up to a complete redesign later in the year. I've just commissioned a local company, Words & Publications, to do this work for me, so you should start seeing changes over the next few days.

The website will soon have pages for the new series and will be linked from the Simon & Schuster (UK) site.

[Mark Robson]

Further update: we are now ready to begin submitting the manuscript of Imperial Spy to the film companies. My agent is going to start talking with certain film scouts over the next couple of weeks.

Any crossed fingers would be welcome!

[Alia]

Congrats Mark! That's exciting news!
*fingers crossed*

[rune]

Originally Posted by Mark Urpen

Further update: we are now ready to begin submitting the manuscript of Imperial Spy to the film companies. My agent is going to start talking with certain film scouts over the next couple of weeks.

Any crossed fingers would be welcome!

A movie Sounds great. Do you get a say on who's in it?

[I, Brian]

Originally Posted by Mark Urpen

Further update: we are now ready to begin submitting the manuscript of Imperial Spy to the film companies. My agent is going to start talking with certain film scouts over the next couple of weeks.

Any crossed fingers would be welcome!

I'd wish you luck on selling the film rights - but that might be wishing you a dance with the devil!!

Best of luck with it anyway.

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by rune

A movie Sounds great. Do you get a say on who's in it?

Let's not get too far ahead of the game here, Rune! I'm pitching the book to the scouts, not casting the film. In truth, though, I have no idea how much influence I would have in the event of a film ever being made. My guess is - not a lot.

Originally Posted by I,Brian

I'd wish you luck on selling the film rights - but that might be wishing you a dance with the devil!!

Cue music - a tango would probably be appropriate!

Thanks for the good wishes everyone.

[Teresa Edgerton]

From what I hear, in most cases where the movie rights to a book are sold no one actually gets around to making the film. The upside of that is that when the option lapses you can sell it all over again to somebody else. A really popular author can actually make more money off of repeatedly optioning a book than if someone goes out and makes it into a mediocre movie.

Which makes wishing you the best possible outcome a little complicated, Mark.

May you sell it to a perfectly wonderful film-maker who makes it into a blockbuster -- or else sell it to a lot of ineffectual ones who make you rich by not making it into a movie at all!

[Mark Robson]

Originally Posted by Kelpie

May you sell it to a perfectly wonderful film-maker who makes it into a blockbuster -- or else sell it to a lot of ineffectual ones who make you rich by not making it into a movie at all!

LOL! I'd settle for either, Kelpie, but I'm enough of a realist not to get my hopes up too high.