From Indie to International: How These Three Authors Scored Translation Rights Deals for Their Books
As the indie publishing movement has changed and grown over the last decade, so has the ability for authors and publishers to reach larger audiences easily and effectively.
This has meant that quality indie books are consistently becoming nationally recognized as bestsellers, all while circumventing the bottleneck of traditional publishing channels and the exorbitant costs associated with a traditional publicity campaign.
And it doesn’t just stop at national success—these quality indie titles are highly sought after in the worldwide market as well.
For us at DropCap, some of our biggest and most exciting translation rights success stories have come from indie authors and publishers.
That is why we recently created a partnership with the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) to allow indie authors the ability to showcase their titles in the same way that our traditional publishing partners do, in order to secure a translation rights deal, create passive income for their books, and realize their dreams of taking their books to the global stage.
We recently talked with IBPA about how publishers can land overseas licenses, and will be presenting at IBPA’s 2023 Publishing University this May in San Diego, California.
Watch Now: How to Make Your Titles Go Global With DropCap >>
IBPA members can register for the conference and DropCap’s session entitled, “Doing the Rights Thing: How to Maximize Your Titles in the Global Marketplace” here.
So, do YOU think your book has what it takes to grab the attention of the international translation rights market?
Here are three indie titles that have grabbed global attention, along with thoughts from DropCap’s powerhouse agenting team, Allison Olson and Monica Meehan, about what they think the secret was to their success:
Don’t Believe Everything You Think: Why Your Thinking is the Beginning and End of Suffering by Joseph Nguyen
Allison, DropCap Agent
“Joseph found us when he started getting queries from international agents about translation rights for his book, and we’re so glad he did. To date, we have been able to secure more than 30 translation rights contracts for his book!”
The secret to Joseph’s success:
Joseph came to us with impressive sales numbers and a strong Amazon presence with more than 2000 reviews. This made it so interested global buyers could already see the national appeal.
It also helps that books about self-improvement are a hot topic right now, all over the world!
Don’t Believe Everything You Think, by Joseph Nguyen, translated into Hindi and Spanish.
The Book of Azreal (Gods and Monsters Book 1) by Amber Nicole
Monica, DropCap Agent
“Amber came to us through our partnership with IBPA, and her book started to turn heads in the international community immediately. It is currently licensed in Turkish and Russian, and the interest in this title continues to build.”
The secret to Amber’s success:
Like Joseph, Amber’s sales numbers and number of Amazon reviews showed clear national appeal. We also think that her incredible book cover turned heads in our award-winning software system, which we use to showcase our titles to buyers around the world.
Beyond Grit: Ten Powerful Practices to Gain the High Performance Edge by Cindra Kamphoff
Allison, DropCap Agent
“Cindra’s book is a great example of an indie author who took the time to create a relevant and timely book as a complement to her business. Her established authority and forthcoming books in this series make her an excellent fit for DropCap.”
The secret to Cindra’s success:
When Cindra came to DropCap, we were blown away by her national success. With more than 40k in domestic sales, a dynamic speaking platform, and the promise of even more books in her popular series, it’s no wonder the book immediately turned heads in the international market.
