Comments on: The Joys of Foreign Publishing http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing Writing and Reading. Commerce and Art. Fantasy and Science Fiction. Discuss. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:28:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Gwen http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7258 Gwen Sat, 16 Dec 2006 20:01:00 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7258 -To put in a really mercenary-sounding way, selling the foreign rights to a book means you earn more money off the same work you’ve already done.- In other words: We can get paid <em>twice</em>! -I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew!- And then they'd die of exposure. Sounds like fun. I wonder what translators do if they come across, say, a French or Spanish word in an English book and they're translating into the language used. Do they leave it (after all, it's in the target language already), or change it to another language (I guess if the point is that it's in another language, like Draco and his cousin speaking in French to each other to show off their education while an eavesdropper only catches a couple of words)? -To put in a really mercenary-sounding way, selling the foreign rights to a book means you earn more money off the same work you’ve already done.-

In other words: We can get paid twice!

-I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew!-

And then they’d die of exposure. Sounds like fun.

I wonder what translators do if they come across, say, a French or Spanish word in an English book and they’re translating into the language used. Do they leave it (after all, it’s in the target language already), or change it to another language (I guess if the point is that it’s in another language, like Draco and his cousin speaking in French to each other to show off their education while an eavesdropper only catches a couple of words)?

]]> By: Jellyn Andrews http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7251 Jellyn Andrews Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:51:41 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7251 I think the cover on Tor der Verwandlung looks a lot like the Naomi Novik covers, which I really love. They're relevant to the story, beautiful, and rather intriguing, without trying to stick a human in there. I think the cover on Tor der Verwandlung looks a lot like the Naomi Novik covers, which I really love. They’re relevant to the story, beautiful, and rather intriguing, without trying to stick a human in there.

]]> By: Carol Berg http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7209 Carol Berg Fri, 15 Dec 2006 23:32:48 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7209 Whew, you're right about Dennis McKiernan's covers. You just wonder what people are thinking. Carol Whew, you’re right about Dennis McKiernan’s covers. You just wonder what people are thinking.

Carol

]]> By: TeichDragon http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7201 TeichDragon Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:25:38 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7201 <blockquote><i>Carol Berg said:</i> Ifinally figured out what the cover represents - a mirror - which IS very significant in the story. As to what is reflected, not quite so clear - but I am fine with it. I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew!</blockquote> Yepp, I thought the mirror part was quite clear. The german title is something like "Door of transformation/metamorphosis". I think the sand in the foreground and the snowy mountains with the water in the mirror reflect that quite good. About bad covers: Take a look what they have done to McKiernans books - http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_ss_b/302-8345519-0309662?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=McKiernan Looks like the painter played a little too much WOW... ;) Sidenote: I finally realized I had registered an account here :D

Carol Berg said:
Ifinally figured out what the cover represents - a mirror - which IS very significant in the story. As to what is reflected, not quite so clear - but I am fine with it. I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew!

Yepp, I thought the mirror part was quite clear. The german title is something like “Door of transformation/metamorphosis”. I think the sand in the foreground and the snowy mountains with the water in the mirror reflect that quite good.

About bad covers: Take a look what they have done to McKiernans books - http://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_ss_b/302-8345519-0309662?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=McKiernan

Looks like the painter played a little too much WOW… ;)

Sidenote: I finally realized I had registered an account here :D

]]> By: Teich http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7198 Teich Fri, 15 Dec 2006 18:00:17 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7198 [quote]I finally figured out what the cover represents - a mirror - which IS very significant in the story. As to what is reflected, not quite so clear - but I am fine with it. I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew![/quote] Oh, yes - I thought the mirror was quite clear. The german title is something like "Door of tranformation/metamorphosis" and if you look at the sand in the foreground and the snow (?) covered mountains and the water in the mirror, I think this reflects it quite good. Just as an example for a bad covers - have a look what they have done to McKiernan's books: http://amazon.de/s/ref=nb_ss_w/302-8345519-0309662?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Mckiernan&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go Looks like the painter played to much WOW... :) [quote]I finally figured out what the cover represents - a mirror - which IS very significant in the story. As to what is reflected, not quite so clear - but I am fine with it. I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew![/quote]

Oh, yes - I thought the mirror was quite clear. The german title is something like “Door of tranformation/metamorphosis” and if you look at the sand in the foreground and the snow (?) covered mountains and the water in the mirror, I think this reflects it quite good.

Just as an example for a bad covers - have a look what they have done to McKiernan’s books:
http://amazon.de/s/ref=nb_ss_w/302-8345519-0309662?__mk_de_DE=%C5M%C5Z%D5%D1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Mckiernan&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=Go

Looks like the painter played to much WOW… :)

]]> By: Carol Berg http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7193 Carol Berg Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:08:29 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7193 <blockquote>Trust me, better THIS picture than the typical “red-hot-haired-half-nacked-barbarian-girl� which is always a winner… ;) </blockquote> I finally figured out what the cover represents - a mirror - which IS very significant in the story. As to what is reflected, not quite so clear - but I am fine with it. I am <em>very</em> relieved they didn't go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew! <blockquote> But I think I will do enjoy the books - from those who read the english originals you only have received very high scores! :) (4 - 4 1/2 stars from 5 possible, which means you are far far far above the average</blockquote> Very nice to hear. <blockquote>“No-I-will-not-mention-the-name-whose-film-is-just-beeing-torn-apart-in-every-newspaper� books.</blockquote> Sigh. The everpresent <em>commercial success</em> conundrum. Carol

Trust me, better THIS picture than the typical “red-hot-haired-half-nacked-barbarian-girl� which is always a winner… ;)

I finally figured out what the cover represents - a mirror - which IS very significant in the story. As to what is reflected, not quite so clear - but I am fine with it. I am very relieved they didn’t go with the half-naked girls. That surely could have happened, as much of the story is set in a desert empire! Whew!

But I think I will do enjoy the books - from those who read the english originals you only have received very high scores! :)
(4 - 4 1/2 stars from 5 possible, which means you are far far far above the average

Very nice to hear.

“No-I-will-not-mention-the-name-whose-film-is-just-beeing-torn-apart-in-every-newspaper� books.

Sigh. The everpresent commercial success conundrum.

Carol

]]> By: Teich http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7148 Teich Fri, 15 Dec 2006 00:00:09 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7148 <blockquote><i>Carol Berg said:</i> Wow, excellent - I hadn’t seen the cover. (Not that I understand its relationship to the story, but I’ve learned to be OK with that!) And I am very pleased to hear that the translator has a good rep. Thanks for the heads up! (And I hope you enjoy the books - they should be bringing out all three of my first series, Transformation, Revelation, and Restoration.)</blockquote> NEVER EVER ask about the cover and it's meaning to the story! (At least not in germany, that is...). No kidding, I think german publishers have a long tradition not caring for the content and instead putting any picture they like on a "fantasy book". OK admitted, they slowly get better at that! And as I said, your bookcover is actually one of the "better" ones... Trust me, better THIS picture than the typical "red-hot-haired-half-nacked-barbarian-girl" which is always a winner... ;) Great to hear the complete series is going to be released. The first one will be out in juli next year, so it's still a while. But I think I will do enjoy the books - from those who read the english originals you only have received very high scores! :) (4 - 4 1/2 stars from 5 possible, which means you are far far far above the average "No-I-will-not-mention-the-name-whose-film-is-just-beeing-torn-apart-in-every-newspaper" books. :) Teich

Carol Berg said:
Wow, excellent - I hadn’t seen the cover. (Not that I understand its relationship to the story, but I’ve learned to be OK with that!) And I am very pleased to hear that the translator has a good rep.

Thanks for the heads up! (And I hope you enjoy the books - they should be bringing out all three of my first series, Transformation, Revelation, and Restoration.)

NEVER EVER ask about the cover and it’s meaning to the story! (At least not in germany, that is…). No kidding, I think german publishers have a long tradition not caring for the content and instead putting any picture they like on a “fantasy book”.
OK admitted, they slowly get better at that! And as I said, your bookcover is actually one of the “better” ones…
Trust me, better THIS picture than the typical “red-hot-haired-half-nacked-barbarian-girl” which is always a winner… ;)

Great to hear the complete series is going to be released. The first one will be out in juli next year, so it’s still a while. But I think I will do enjoy the books - from those who read the english originals you only have received very high scores! :)
(4 - 4 1/2 stars from 5 possible, which means you are far far far above the average “No-I-will-not-mention-the-name-whose-film-is-just-beeing-torn-apart-in-every-newspaper” books. :)

Teich

]]> By: Carol Berg http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7143 Carol Berg Thu, 14 Dec 2006 21:37:07 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7143 <blockquote>Teich said, I just recently saw that one of your books is going to be released here by Blanvalet. I’m very eager to read it, since I’ve heard only good things about them. (But I’m to lazy to read english…) And the cover ain’t that bad too! (I’ve seen worse on german fantasy…) And if the amazon database is correct, I expect a great translation too. Gerd is the translator I’ve mentioned before, he’s doing the malazan translations here in germany and really put’s a lot of thoughts and energy into the translations</blockquote> Wow, excellent - I hadn't seen the cover. (Not that I understand its relationship to the story, but I've learned to be OK with that!) And I am very pleased to hear that the translator has a good rep. Thanks for the heads up! (And I hope you enjoy the books - they should be bringing out all three of my first series, Transformation, Revelation, and Restoration.) Carol

Teich said,

I just recently saw that one of your books is going to be released here by Blanvalet. I’m very eager to read it, since I’ve heard only good things about them. (But I’m to lazy to read english…)
And the cover ain’t that bad too! (I’ve seen worse on german fantasy…)
And if the amazon database is correct, I expect a great translation too. Gerd is the translator I’ve mentioned before, he’s doing the malazan translations here in germany and really put’s a lot of thoughts and energy into the translations

Wow, excellent - I hadn’t seen the cover. (Not that I understand its relationship to the story, but I’ve learned to be OK with that!) And I am very pleased to hear that the translator has a good rep.

Thanks for the heads up! (And I hope you enjoy the books - they should be bringing out all three of my first series, Transformation, Revelation, and Restoration.)

Carol

]]> By: Teich http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7138 Teich Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:46:41 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7138 <blockquote><i>Carol Berg said:</i> I have had pretty good luck with getting paid my advances from German, Czech, Polish, Israeli, and two different Russian publishers, and even a miniscule bit of royalties from my first Russian publisher. I do know that some of the smaller market publishers have such tight cash flow that they can’t pay advances until right when the book comes out. </blockquote> Hi Carol! I just recently saw that one of your books is going to be released here by Blanvalet. I'm very eager to read it, since I've heard only good things about them. (But I'm to lazy to read english...) And the cover ain't that bad too! (I've seen worse on german fantasy...) http://www.amazon.de/Tor-Verwandlung-Carol-Berg/dp/3442243610/sr=1-2/qid=1166125396/ref=sr_1_2/302-8345519-0309662?ie=UTF8&s=books And if the amazon database is correct, I expect a great translation too. Gerd is the translator I've mentioned before, he's doing the malazan translations here in germany and really put's a lot of thoughts and energy into the translations.

Carol Berg said:
I have had pretty good luck with getting paid my advances from German, Czech, Polish, Israeli, and two different Russian publishers, and even a miniscule bit of royalties from my first Russian publisher. I do know that some of the smaller market publishers have such tight cash flow that they can’t pay advances until right when the book comes out.

Hi Carol!
I just recently saw that one of your books is going to be released here by Blanvalet. I’m very eager to read it, since I’ve heard only good things about them. (But I’m to lazy to read english…)
And the cover ain’t that bad too! (I’ve seen worse on german fantasy…)
http://www.amazon.de/Tor-Verwandlung-Carol-Berg/dp/3442243610/sr=1-2/qid=1166125396/ref=sr_1_2/302-8345519-0309662?ie=UTF8&s=books
And if the amazon database is correct, I expect a great translation too. Gerd is the translator I’ve mentioned before, he’s doing the malazan translations here in germany and really put’s a lot of thoughts and energy into the translations.

]]> By: Nevenka Peikov http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7129 Nevenka Peikov Thu, 14 Dec 2006 16:19:20 +0000 http://www.deepgenre.com/wordpress/katharinekerr/misc/the-joys-of-foreign-publishing#comment-7129 As book's translations go in Italy I have to say Editrice Nord is actually one of the best. At least they translate almost literally and they don't forget "parts" of the books as some others do, plus, as far as I know their translators are fan of the genre and that never hurts. I have read their versions of Daggerspell, Darkspell and Bristling Wood before reading them in English and the differences were minimal. Some words, a couple of sentences that couldn't be rendered in Italian. The same goes for Eddings' Belgariad, but unfortunately for him the Malloreon was optioned by another publisher and... well... it was not so good. They couldn't translate a joke if their life depended on it. I guess it's needless to say I am Italian and also a translator, though I do judicial/financial stuff. The problem here is that SF and Fantasy books are usually given to translate to people just out of school (they're cheaper). That in itself wouldn't be so bad, but translators'schools in Italy simply suck! Some popular authors, Marion Zimmer Bradley for example, get a popular translator but common practice wants said translator to subcontract the job to others. The result is the Italian version of The Mists of Avalon. 200 pages circa shorter (Italian being a pretty verbose language it should have been the opposite) , most of the parts about Paganism vs Christianity vanished or altered and mistakes so stupid that in the end you'd think Viviane would have converted and become a nun if she wasn't killed! I know from her site that the same thing happened to Diana Gabaldon a few years ago with her first book, Outlander. The Italian edition was a couple hundred pages instead of her normal 800 or more. She promptly withdrew the rights from Italy until she found another publisher who would not cut and condense her work. Another problem are editors. An author might even get lucky and have a pretty good translator but then the editor (meaning the supposed owner of the publishing house or a director who most of the time can't read in English OR Italian) will have his say. This could lead to a whole reorganization of the book. He could say the language used is not impressive enough, or the names of the characters are not to his liking or whatever he feels like saying since his decisional power is pretty much absolute. If any of you heard something about Italian politics in the last 6/7 years just pick the government example and fit it into a publishing house. That's how it usually works. An house of mayhem where one person makes all the decisions and if you don't like it you're fired and probably will never work again. Most translators, including humble me, consider literary translation a waste of time and health. Moreover, it doesn't pay the bills so... better to go into technical stuff (they pay on time and make no fuss about the receipt) and buy your books original from Amazon or B&N. By the way, 20% of the total paid for each job is what the Italian version of IRS takes from me. I guess they treated one of my favourite authors like she had an Italian VAT number. I would ask a lawyer if that was possible. Actually, I think I will ask a lawyer! Oh, and if you're wondering, Tv series and film translation are not much better off. They all speak the same, nobody says bad words if he can avoid that and everything out of the ordinary (Un-Christian like, Gay-Lesbian, etc.) is simply censored, unless you have a kick-ass Hollywood major behind you. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is just a laugh if you see it in English and then in Italian. Sorry for the long comment and the raving! :( As book’s translations go in Italy I have to say Editrice Nord is actually one of the best. At least they translate almost literally and they don’t forget “parts” of the books as some others do, plus, as far as I know their translators are fan of the genre and that never hurts.
I have read their versions of Daggerspell, Darkspell and Bristling Wood before reading them in English and the differences were minimal. Some words, a couple of sentences that couldn’t be rendered in Italian. The same goes for Eddings’ Belgariad, but unfortunately for him the Malloreon was optioned by another publisher and… well… it was not so good. They couldn’t translate a joke if their life depended on it.

I guess it’s needless to say I am Italian and also a translator, though I do judicial/financial stuff.

The problem here is that SF and Fantasy books are usually given to translate to people just out of school (they’re cheaper). That in itself wouldn’t be so bad, but translators’schools in Italy simply suck! Some popular authors, Marion Zimmer Bradley for example, get a popular translator but common practice wants said translator to subcontract the job to others. The result is the Italian version of The Mists of Avalon. 200 pages circa shorter (Italian being a pretty verbose language it should have been the opposite) , most of the parts about Paganism vs Christianity vanished or altered and mistakes so stupid that in the end you’d think Viviane would have converted and become a nun if she wasn’t killed!

I know from her site that the same thing happened to Diana Gabaldon a few years ago with her first book, Outlander. The Italian edition was a couple hundred pages instead of her normal 800 or more. She promptly withdrew the rights from Italy until she found another publisher who would not cut and condense her work.

Another problem are editors. An author might even get lucky and have a pretty good translator but then the editor (meaning the supposed owner of the publishing house or a director who most of the time can’t read in English OR Italian) will have his say. This could lead to a whole reorganization of the book. He could say the language used is not impressive enough, or the names of the characters are not to his liking or whatever he feels like saying since his decisional power is pretty much absolute. If any of you heard something about Italian politics in the last 6/7 years just pick the government example and fit it into a publishing house. That’s how it usually works. An house of mayhem where one person makes all the decisions and if you don’t like it you’re fired and probably will never work again.

Most translators, including humble me, consider literary translation a waste of time and health. Moreover, it doesn’t pay the bills so… better to go into technical stuff (they pay on time and make no fuss about the receipt) and buy your books original from Amazon or B&N.
By the way, 20% of the total paid for each job is what the Italian version of IRS takes from me. I guess they treated one of my favourite authors like she had an Italian VAT number. I would ask a lawyer if that was possible. Actually, I think I will ask a lawyer!

Oh, and if you’re wondering, Tv series and film translation are not much better off. They all speak the same, nobody says bad words if he can avoid that and everything out of the ordinary (Un-Christian like, Gay-Lesbian, etc.) is simply censored, unless you have a kick-ass Hollywood major behind you. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is just a laugh if you see it in English and then in Italian.

Sorry for the long comment and the raving! :(

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