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,...
Inside the Courtroom: Little Stuff that can be Big Stuff
Very few non-lawyers write legal thrillers, but many authors include courtroom scenes in their books. I often find these scenes lacking not in drama or suspense but in authenticity and I suspect the writer is drawing more on what...
Making Fiction Stranger (or at least more compelling) Than Truth
The presidential campaign of 2016 is – blessedly – almost over. If you’re like me, you can’t wait to be done with it. On the other hand, to the fiction writer, the election has been morbidly fascinating, with the obscure,...
Publishing Contracts — Ten Tips for Negotiating the Grant of Rights Clause
The nucleus of any publishing contract is the “Grant of Rights” clause. This provision defines what rights under copyright the author transfers to the publisher to commercially exploit in exchange for payment. For...
Reduce the Sting of Warranty and Indemnity Clauses in Publishing Contracts
Every book contract, whether traditionally published or self-published through Amazon, contains warranty and indemnity clauses. The demands made in these provisions tend to be seen by authors as grossly unfair and unreasonable....
Capital Punishment – Procedures And Appeals For Death Penalty Cases
Sarah from San Diego asked about the rules and procedures for capital punishment. The plot in her current manuscript centers on a lawyer’s attempt to free her husband who has been charged with the brutal rape and murder of...
Writers Wanting To Incorporate – What Is The Right Option For You?
The question of whether writers should form a business entity for their publishing work generated lengthy conversation during the ThrillerFest tax panel I moderated in July (see my post last week for take-home tax tips from the...