The Curious Copyright Infringement Case of Sherlock Holmes in Enola Holmes
The Netflix movie Enola Holmes is based on a series of young adult novels by Nancy Springer, The Enola Holmes Mysteries, published between 2006-2010 by Penguin Random House. The series centers on Sherlock’s teenage sister Enola,...
Using Stock Photos On Book Covers
Book covers are created using either custom or stock photography. Custom photography is created by a hired photographer to create something unique for your exclusive use. Stock photography, on the other hand, is photos that more...
Traditional And Self-Publishing Contracts – When To Say, NO!
When I was at ThrillerFest two years ago (a writing conference in NYC for, you guessed it, thriller writers), I moderated a panel on negotiating publishing contracts. The panel consisted of two agents, two publishing lawyers, and...
9 Major Deal Points In Publishing Contracts
You finished your book. You found an agent. You have a publisher who wants to buy the rights to publish your book. Congratulations! Now what? It is time to negotiate your publishing contract. “But isn’t that my agent’s job?” you...
When Research Meets FOIA Requests
If you’re writing true crime or memoir, fiction loosely based on true events or digging into a hot newsworthy topic, sometimes our research leads us to information or records from state and federal government agencies. Often this...
Legal Services for Writers: Where’s my lawyer?
As much as we attempt to avoid legal issues in our writing careers, there are times when consulting a publishing lawyer is a necessity. Maybe you are a victim of a publishing scam or accused of defamation. Maybe you need advice...
Books to Film: The Option Versus The Shopping Agreement
Most writers dream about their book becoming a movie. It’s exciting to think about seeing our creative endeavors on the big screen or television. Plus, who doesn’t like receiving more money? But adapting a book into a movie is a...