Book Covers And Copyrights
A writer this week asked about using preexisting book covers to create a new cover for a book she was publishing. Book cover copyrights are a topic I’m questioned about often. Who owns the book cover art — the artist, the...
Happy Turkey and Pie Week!
Who knew gravy could be a beverage and carrot cake a vegetable. We’re spending time swimming in the bay to work off those extra pounds. Tune in next Saturday to learn about estate planning for writers (because after that...
Life Story Rights – Clearance and Acquisition for Literary Works
Truth is stranger than fiction. It is an old adage that, for writers, equals entertainment. Maybe the story is uplifting or heroic, sad or horrific. Maybe the story is a retelling of noteworthy events, a glimpse into the private...
Selling Foreign Rights – It is easier than you think!
For most authors, whether traditionally published or self-published, the thought of selling foreign rights seems daunting. The common mindset is authors lack the capability to exploit foreign rights on their own. It was hard...
Prose, Plots, and Plagiarism — How To Avoid Literary Theft
Steal a plot. Crib a phrase. Imitate someone’s prose. I often hear this advice in my writing communities. And every time, that old high school taboo stored in the rafters of my brain screeches, “That’s plagiarism!” I understand...