Books and licensing
Say yes to the work, not to every right
A publishing or licensing contract usually asks for more than the project needs: every format, every territory, sometimes the next book too. Authors, illustrators and artists can often say yes to the work and no to the rest.
I read book contracts, self-publishing and illustration agreements and licenses for art, characters and merchandise, and say which rights you can keep.
Book and illustration contracts
Self-publishing agreements
Licensing your art or characters
Merchandise and collaboration terms
What I do
For authors, artists and licensors
- Flat fee
Book contracts
Rights granted, advance, royalty and the clause that decides when the rights come back. I mark up the agreement and explain the options.
Full written markup
A call about reversion and options
- Flat fee
Art and character licensing
A license that lets a company use your work in a set way for a set time, without handing over the work itself.
License draft or review
Term and territory made explicit
- Flat fee
Merchandise and collaborations
Terms for a drop with another maker or a shop: who makes what, who pays, who keeps the designs afterwards.
Collaboration terms in plain language
One round of changes
- Flat fee, plus the filing fee
Copyright registration
Registering a finished book, album, film or artwork with the copyright office, including the deposit copy.
Application prepared and filed
Certificate checked on arrival
The copyright office reviews each application. Filing fees are separate and set by the office.
What authors and artists ask first
What does reversion mean?
It is the clause that gives your rights back if a book goes out of print or a license ends. Without one, a publisher can keep them indefinitely.
Can I license a character without selling it?
Yes. A license can be for one product, one place and one length of time, and it can end without a transfer of ownership.
Do I need to register copyright before I publish?
No, your work is protected when you make it. Registration matters when you need to enforce your rights, so it's worth doing for work that matters.
Will you find me an agent or a publisher?
No. I review the offers you receive and explain them. I'm not an agent and I don't place work.
Tell me about the offer
Tell me what the contract is and the date the other side wants an answer. I will reply with a flat fee for the job.