Rights and Translation
General Rights and Translation Rights in the publishing industry are extremely important for publishing books across territories and providing a generous source of income for publishers! These rights offer a publisher a wider variety of texts, wider access to markets, and are used as a way to build author reputation and brand identities. Find out more about our Rights events across the weekend!
SATURDAY 21st AUGUST
Rights
Audio Rights (A Lecture)
2pm-3pm - (Members Room)
Presented by Jo Forshaw, Bloomsbury
Learn about the essentials of audiobook rights and why this could be the perfect role in publishing you may not have considered yet! Jo Forshaw is one of the country’s leading experts in everything audiobook and will be joining us for this discussion into why audiobook rights are so important for authors and publishers, no matter the genre or subject. One of the fastest growing avenues of publishing, audio rights allow for authors to have their work heard on platforms such as audible and reach even bigger audiences than ever before.
If this seems like something you’d be interested in, come along to our event. We’ll be taking questions in an informal discussion so feel free to prepare in advance if you have a specific interest that you wish to learn about.
Jo Forshaw moved into rights at Harper Collins before following her passion for audiobooks and securing her role in their audiobooks department in 2010. Since then she has gone on to start her own audiobook publishing consultancy in 2017.
Rights at Cornerstone (A Lecture)
5pm-6pm - (Meeting Room 1)
Amelia Evans, Rights Director at Cornerstone (PRH)
Rights are the fundamental basis upon which most of the revenue in publishing is made. Without rights it would be impossible to have books translated into other languages, have books turned into films or have authors be able to have fair contracts. As one of the key aspects of the publishing industry it is important that the next generation of publishers understands the significance of rights and that, no matter where you end up in publishing, having an understanding of how rights work will put you a step ahead and make you a knowledgeable member of your team.
Amelia Evans graduated from Bristol University and has worked for Penguin Random house since. An undeniable expert in rights, she speaks four languages and specialises in translation and serial rights.
International Rights (A Lecture)
5pm-6pm - (Meeting Room 2)
Barney Duly, Head of Rights, Laurence King Publishing
International rights is the department from which all translations are made possible, it is through international rights that publishers abroad are able to come to agreements with UK publishers and books are able to extend beyond English speaking countries and be read all over the world. International rights also allow books which are written in other countries to be able to be published, translated and sold in the UK meaning books which might have gone unnoticed by English speaking people can be read and loved by new audiences.
Barney Duly joins us to go over the ins and outs of international rights, the realities of the role and this rewarding avenue of publishing.
Barney Duly works for Laurence King Publishing as head of rights. He speaks French, Spanish and German and utilised this early in his career to venture into translation rights before moving to his current position in 2014.
Translation
Introduction to Translation (A Lecture)
11am-12pm - (Members Room)
Presented by Stefan Tobler, founder of And Other Stories
Translation may not be the typical editorial or marketing role that springs to mind when you think about publishing, but it’s no less glamorous and rewarding! This session has been designed with those who are new to translation in mind. It will be presented by Stefan Tobler, who runs the independent press And Other Stories, which publishes a large selection of translated literature. Here, participants will learn about what a career in translation means, as well as the practicalities of negotiation and an understanding of the department’s relationships to other areas of the publishing industry.
Stefan Tobler is a translator, who founded And Other Stories. In 2005 he studied an MA in Literary Translation at The University of East Anglia. He can speak many languages, including French, German and Spanish. He has previously won the English PEN Writers in Translation prize.
The Translation Process in Practice (A Workshop)
12pm-1pm - (Members Room)
Presented by John O'Brien from Dalkey Archive Press
How do you know which country to sell to? How are the right translators chosen? Come along to find out the answers to these questions and more. This session is for the more experienced among you and is designed to provide additional knowledge to those who have prior experience or a past history of working in translation.
John O’Brien founded Dalkey Archive Press in 1984 by. He also founded the publishing magazines The Review of Contemporary Fiction and Context. In his career he has edited over 400 books and has won multiple awards and prizes. John will be able to answer any publishing related query you may have.
How to Get into Translation (A Lecture)
1:30pm-2:30pm - (Meeting Room 1)
Presented by Jessica Callaghan, rights assistant at Little, Brown Book Group
In this session, Jessica Callaghan, rights assistant at Little, Brown Book Group, will recount how she came into her current role, as well as sharing tips and tricks for CV’s and interviews. This session is ideal for anyone looking to enter a career in translation rights. It is also ideal for those who are complete beginners to the industry as well as those that are more experienced.
Jessica Callaghan studied English at Bristol University before studying a Masters in Publishing at UCL in 2017. In 2018 she started in her first job role as rights assistant at Little, Brown.
An Author's Perspective (A Lecture)
3pm-4pm - (Meeting Room 2)
Presented by Katie Khan, Author
A different perspective on translations. Author of Hold Back the Stars and The Light Between Us, Katie Khan explains what it’s like from the authors perspective to have their work translated into over 27 different languages and why it’s always important to keep the author in mind when thinking about the path of a book.
Perfect for authors and publishers this talk goes into the more personal aspects of translations and how they can make the biggest impact for those involved in the process.
Katie Khan began writing as a teenager and found a love for all things words. Her latest book, released in 2018 with Penguin Books, was a hit with critics and fans alike. She prides herself on her books translations, hoping to reach as many people she can with her work, despite language barriers.
SUNDAY 22nd AUGUST
Rights
Rights and Contracts (A Presentation)
Jessica Neale, Rights and Contracts Director, Canongate
Contracts are what ensures that the world of publishing runs smoothly and fairly. They are needed to guarantee that both the authors, publishers and booksellers all receive agreed upon fair terms. An understanding of them is vital in being able to know what is possible and what is reasonable when working with anyone out of house and to ensure that you are getting the fairest deal for both of you.
We are joined by Jessica Neale who will be going over everything you need to know in a simplified breakdown of the process suitable for those who might have no experience at all in this aspect of the publishing world.
12:30pm-1:30pm - (The Great Hall)
Jessica Neale currently works for Canongate and their rights and contracts director. She previously worked as an agent for The Wylie agency, and before that worked as a rights manager for Penguin Random House.
Translation
Negotiating Translation Rights (A Workshop)
Presented by Nick Ash, rights assistant at Hachette
This workshop is ideal for those who are complete beginners to design as well as those who wish to expand upon their existing knowledge. In this workshop, Nick Ash from Hachette will explain the basics of translation rights, as well as detailing how he got into the industry and why it’s imperative to consider translation rights as the career avenue for you. There will also be a talk on negotiating translation rights and a practical activity where all participants will be given the opportunity to ‘negotiate’ contracts.
1pm-2pm - (Meeting Room 1)
Nick Ash started as a rights intern at HarperCollins in 2018 before becoming a rights assistant at Hachette. He currently handles production enquiries from across all four major divisions of Hachette – Hodder and Stoughton, Headline Publishing, John Murray Press and Quercus Books.
Presented by Helena Doree, head of US rights at Little, Brown Book Group
Helena Doree of Little, Brown is an accomplished senior rights manager, who deals with US, as well as French, Arabic, Hebrew and Greek rights on a daily basis. This session is aimed towards those who are intrigued about a career in translation but are not sure if this department is right for them. It will cover a ‘typical’ day working in translation, covering everything from team meetings to negotiating contracts. Each attendee will learn about specific concepts and practises that are widely used throughout the industry. There will also be ample opportunity to ask questions.
Working in Translation (A Presentation)
4pm-5pm - (Members Room)
Helena Doree has worked in rights at Little, Brown for twelve years, during which time she has progressed from rights executive to manager to head of US rights. She is especially skilled in copyright law, licensing and legal advice and would be happy to answer any queries you might have.
Academic Translation (A Lecture)
11am-12pm - (Meeting Room 2)
Presented by Becky Taylor, Foreign Rights Executive at Emerald Publishing
An expert in everything translations, Becky comes from an academic background and has worked on translations for more of emeralds publications than she can count. A Yorkshire native, her work has taken her all over the world in the pursuit of new publishers to work with.
If travel within your career is something you want then translation rights is one of the best opportunities to experience publishing all over the world. Come along and say hello, whether you are interested in rights already or just want to learn everything you can, all are welcome.
Becky Taylor began working at Emerald Publishing in 2016 after a number of years of being a researcher for the University of Yorkshire. The move, whilst risky, proved to be a great success for Becky and she has since gone on to be involved in the publication of research from all over the world.