My question is, When should a writer approach licensing agents?1. When the writer has a fan base for his were-tigers. Until then, licensing agents are laughing up their sleeves at you. So is everyone else.
Last month I got a small deal from a big house for a fantasy novel about were-tigers. I think that trying to push this as a line of plush toys and baseball caps isn't a terrible idea. At least will cost nothing (to make the approach) and might spark some cross-promotional possibilities. What do I do?
2. When the writer has sole merchandising rights, as iterated in his contract. Don't try to sell rights that belong to your publisher.
6 comments:
Wow. I'm thinking a complete run down of a publishing contract might be beneficial for newbies. I had no idea the publishers obtained the rights to merchandising. Huh. You learn something new everyday.
Every time I tell my husband about a new idea for a PB, he jokingly (or maybe only half-jokingly) mentions the possibility of action figures.
Many thanks for the response! I was hoping there was some way of encouraging this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles#Origins
But sounds like I'm basically asking if there's some way to ensure that the lottery ticket I buy has the winning number, before I actually make the purchase. Maybe I'll just keep my promotional ideas to myself.
And I'm used to people laughing at me. I'm a -writer-.
Thanks again,
Russell
Publishers only get merch rights if you have a lousy agent.
Movies/games/merch tend to travel together. I control mine. Then again, I don't use an agent for 15%, I use a pub lawyer for 10%.
On a very lucrative deal in my early day I used an agent who got me, you guessed it, no control of movies/games/merch. And she took 15%.
OFF TOPIC --
But did you see the new cover for LIAR??
There's a black teen on the cover now. Yay!
I would buy a were-tiger soft toy but I may be in a substantial minority there...
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