Chapter 274 Fame and Fortune
The sun sets in the west and the sun sets at dusk.
After the report meeting, Nie Hualing and his wife, Xiao Qian and his wife, followed Fang Yan and others towards the apartment.
Along the way, we were talking and laughing, sharing the joy of the Chinese team’s good start.
As he walked, Nie Hualing introduced American university presses: "Generally, the editorial board of a university press has six to twelve people, and the members are basically professors from the school."
"For example, the editorial board of the University of Iowa is composed of professors from 10 different departments. Professor Sean and Professor Jeffrey are both members of the committee. The editorial board accepts submissions from outside, and sometimes even actively recruits Outside scholars requested manuscripts. "
"..."
After listening for a while, Fang Yan asked about the differences between university presses and companies in the publishing industry, such as manuscript fees and royalties.
“American university presses are all non-profit organizations.”
Nie Hualing said: “If the article is short and has few words, we will pay a fee of US$500. If it is long and has many words, , that’s $1,000.”
Then the conversation changed, "Although the manuscript fee is definitely not as good as your "Saving Private Ryan", first of all, the university's publishing house will spend a lot of money on the binding of the book. It is usually printed on first-class paper and hardcovered with cloth, which is very particular." br>
Fang Yan listened patiently. Although the manuscript fee from the university press was very low and the advance payment was very small, the royalties were high, 15%.
What’s more, it’s a fixed royalty!
Unlike "Saving Private Ryan", the royalty rate is 8% for less than 5,000 copies, and 11.5% for more than 5,000 copies. After 10,000 copies, the royalty rate increases to 15%.
The most important thing is the tax rate issue!
Publications issued by non-profit organizations enjoy tax breaks at the federal to state levels, and even tax exemptions.
“I can responsibly say that most books published by the University of Iowa are tax-free.” Paul Angell responded with a smile.
Tax-free? !
Fang Yan smiled in his heart and said calmly: "So how many copies will be printed for the first printing? 500 copies? 1,000 copies?"
"No, no, with "Guns, Viruses and Steel" "The quality of the first edition is generally between 1,500 and 2,500 copies."
Paul Angel said that although the first printing quantity is a little small, if the University of Iowa lists this book as elective readings or even offers an elective course, the nature will be completely different.
In American universities, textbooks are very expensive!
Like "Saving Private Ryan", a copy is priced at $15.
In the 1980s, American textbooks generally cost between $40 and $70, and even good textbooks cost hundreds of dollars.
Moreover, the University of Iowa is a member of the Association of American Universities and the Big Ten Conference. and a member of the public Ivy League.
If "Guns, Viruses and Steel" sells well across the United States, it will be recommended to other universities. Such an academic achievement is no less than publishing multiple papers in top international journals.
“So that’s it.”
Dialect asked no more questions and chose without hesitation to let the University of Iowa publish it.
Compared with fame and the benefits that fame brings, royalties and royalties can only be regarded as small profits.
"Xiao Fang, write well! Write boldly!"
Xiao Qian repeatedly warned that we must seize this rare opportunity to bring glory to ourselves and the country!
"Mr. Xiao, don't worry."
Fang Yan said: "I will try my best."
Xiao Qian said half-jokingly, maybe with "Guns, Guns, For the book "Viruses and Steel", Fang Xiaojiang was also appointed as a visiting professor at the University of Iowa.
“It’s not impossible.”
Nie Hualing also joked.
“Don’t make fun of me anymore.”
Fang Yan waved his hand.
I am not being modest. How come I, a high school graduate, have become a visiting professor at an Ivy League university?
“What?!”
Not only Paul Angel and his wife, but also Hong Kong and Taiwan writers such as Pan Yaoming and Liu Wuxiong were shocked.
Nie Hualing couldn't help but said in surprise: "It's really unexpected. I thought you and Ruoxue came from the same university."
"Ahem, Yao and I Like the famous brothers, they were all anxious to find a job and lighten the burden on their families, so they didn't take the college entrance exam."
Fang Yan and Xiao Qian looked at each other and immediately made an excuse. "Then are you still willing to go to college?"
Paul Angel said that based on his current situation, he could study abroad in the Department of Languages or History at the University of Iowa. The tuition would be free of charge, and there would also be full scholarships and international student allowances.
Hearing this, Pan Yaoming, a self-funded student, was so envious that saliva flowed from his eyes and he stared at Fang Yan.
"Let me think about this again."
Fang Yan said euphemistically: "We in China have policies for studying abroad."
Xiao Qian smiled and said: " Yes, we should wait until Xiaofang writes and publishes the book about studying abroad.”
…………
The next day, Xiao Qian and his wife officially set off, left the campus and went to other universities to give lectures.
Fang Yan, Bai Ruoxue and others came to see him off and stood at the gate of the school.
Before leaving, Xiao Qian took out 5 letters of recommendation from his bag and gave them to Fang Yan.
“Keep these letters, they may come in handy.”
"Thank you, Mr. Xiao."
Fang Yan couldn't help but be moved, and then watched Xiao Qian and his wife leave.
"Teacher Fang, Teacher Fang!"
On the way back to campus, we ran into a group of overseas Chinese, all holding a newspaper in their hands.
Dian Yan took a look and saw that the name of the newspaper was "Newsletter of the Chinese Alumni Association of the University of Iowa". Almost all the pages on it were related to dialect.
Either the speech was about dialect or the promotion for Saving Private Ryan.
At this moment, this tabloid is spreading among the Chinese circles in the college town, and slowly, it spreads to the entire Iowa college town.
Many international students also feel that publicity in universities is not enough, so they sent these issues of the "University of Iowa Chinese Alumni Association News" that reported dialects to "Chinese Express", Chinese newspapers such as "North American Daily" and "China Student Weekly".
In an instant, the news that dialects were flourishing at the University of Iowa spread among Chinese circles across the United States.
The book-buying craze that had subsided has begun to pick up again, and sales of "Saving Private Ryan" have slowly increased.
Random House, Kate Quinn hurriedly knocked on the door of the editor-in-chief's office and said with a smile:
"The distributor in Iowa called and said that "Saving Private Ryan" was out of stock and needed it. Print another 2,000 copies.”
“Iowa? Isn’t that the home base of the International Writing Project?” Jason Epstein took over the list and caught the key point at once.
"Yes."
Kate Quinnen glanced at the "New York Times" on his desk, "It seems that the effect of the novel on the bestseller list is beginning to appear."
The New York Times bestseller list is one of the most representative bestseller lists in the United States.
The rankings on the list are based on weekly sales reports provided by a nationwide sample survey of large and small bookstores and wholesalers.
Every week, it is published in the New York Times Book Review magazine that accompanies the Sunday edition of The New York Times.
In other words, anyone who subscribes to the New York Times will be a potential buyer of books on the bestseller list, and the number of subscribers to the New York Times in the United States is as high as several million. people.
“This is one reason. I think it may also be attributed to our Chinese writer who is dedicated and good at building momentum.”
Jason Epstein poked at the list. Most of the bookstores he ordered from were near the University of Iowa.
Kate Quinn said: "I'm afraid he has done some propaganda that we don't know about."
Jason Epstein pondered for a long time, "When this time is over, help me Book a flight to Iowa City ”
“You are going to Iowa?” Kate Quinn couldn’t help but wonder, “Are you going to meet this Chinese writer?” Give the invitation to him in person.”
Jason Epstein smiled and said: "Look at him by the way, is he worthy of our efforts in the National Book Award?"
(End of this chapter)