I had to share this post on Publishing Perspectives by Alex de Campi, a graphic novelist. She and her co-novelist, Christine Larsen, are to be congratulated for their approach to new media, publishing, and translation… In my opinion they have done *everything* right:
* They have embraced a new model of publishing, providing readers with various digital formats (iPhone, Kindle, Android, and eReader) to choose from.
* They started out at a low price point to get readers interested – and are they ever!
* Both of these approaches will garner a large readership quite quickly, which will help them eventually find a traditional publisher.
* They are using Creative Commons copyright protection.
* They are offering their work simultaneously in 14 languages (and growing).
* The translators they hire are professionals – for the most part -, often authors in their own right.
* The payment model for translators is that they will earn 50% of the profit for their language edition, thereby ensuring they are committed not only to the translation but to the marketing and the success of the publication.
Brilliant… in every way. Wouldn’t you agree?
