Understanding Translation Rights: How Foreign Editions of Books Are Made

Guest blog post by Maria Jesus Aguilo, Book Publishing Professional with expertise in Digital Distribution and Rights Management Systems.

Now that your book has been successfully published in English, you might be wondering about the process of getting it published in other languages. This part of the publishing journey is often a mystery for authors, especially those that have opted for the self-publishing route. Read more to discover the best practices for translating your book into foreign editions.

When authors sign a publication agreement with a traditional publisher, they have most likely granted that publisher world rights in all languages. In such cases, the publisher will handle licensing the translation rights to overseas publishers. For self-published authors, however, the opportunity to license translation rights rests in their own hands

International Distribution vs. Translation Rights Licensing

It’s important to clarify a common point of confusion among authors looking to get their books translated: distributing your books internationally (often called “international sales” in publishing) is not the same as licensing the rights to translate, publish, and distribute your books in a different language. In the former scenario, you remain the publisher (or author publisher) of record, and your books travel internationally with the ISBN you have assigned. You oversee and finance the editing, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of your book. In the latter scenario, you are transferring the rights to another publisher, who will oversee and finance the editing, manufacturing, marketing, and distribution, and they will assign their own ISBN. This includes the translation of your book into another language. The latter scenario is usually ideal because the local publisher will be in a better position to sell your book within their territory, while absorbing all the costs associated with publishing the foreign edition of your book.

Benefits of a Foreign Rights Agent

Selling translation rights requires a lot of legwork, perseverance, significant time investment, and the right network of contacts. As a result, many authors and publishers do not have the resources or bandwidth to pursue foreign translation rights. This is where a professional foreign rights agent comes in. These agents have the expertise and connections to navigate the complexities of international markets, ensuring that your book reaches its full global potential. A good foreign rights agent will attend all major international book fairs and pitch your book to potential partners. They will also have established relationships with local agents in different territories. Since agents are typically paid by commission, they are likely to only take on your book if they believe they can successfully sell it. Once they close the deal, they will draft the agreement, act as your broker, and handle all the paperwork for you. The acquiring foreign publisher will finance the translation and publication of the book in their local language, and all the author needs to do is collect the royalty checks. Remember, only agents who focus on foreign translation rights are likely to be successful with your titles.

Navigating Agent Representation as an Independent Author

Finding an agent willing to represent independently published books may prove difficult, but they may agree if your project looks promising. It will pay off to do some homework. First, determine whether your book has universal appeal and will resonate with international readers. If it does, spell out why. If you are professionally active outside your borders or have an international following, let the agent know, in as much detail as possible, as this will showcase your book’s ability to resonate with international audiences. Finally, if your book has gained sales traction in your local market, make sure you communicate this to the agent, including the latest life-to-date sales numbers.

Self-published authors and small independent publishers should have realistic expectations about the challenge of finding foreign publishers willing to license their book. However, if you are confident that your book would work in a foreign market and have the data to support it, perseverance is key. Having your book published in more than one language is always very rewarding, and it allows your work to reach readers all over the world and expand your global impact.

María Jesús Aguilo started her career in independent publishing at Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Currently, María Jesús serves as the Rights Director at Blue Star Press and Sasquatch Books. She also sits on the board of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), where she continues to contribute her expertise to the industry.