Agents/Publishers at home and abroad.

[Pete Rebb]

Hi,
Can anyone tell me if it is wrong to seek agents or publishers abroad at the same time as looking for agents in the UK?

Does that cause a conflict of interest? Do agents require worldwide rights?

[Teresa Edgerton]

You can look for agents in both places until you find one ... why not?

But once you sign with an agent, that agent will probably handle foreign rights as well. They may negotiate with foreign publishers themselves, or they may work with sub-agents in other countries to sell your work abroad. The percentage is slightly more on those sales (because the sub-agent gets a cut), but not twice as much. Also, some publishers like to buy world rights (or the right to sell the work in selected countries) and an agent will want to be free to negotiate that sort of deal if necessary -- which they can't do if someone unaffiliated with them is handling those rights.

[Pete Rebb]

Great!

Thanks for your advise Teresa!