These are some of the things the Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency does—but every author or illustrator is unique and will call upon us in different ways:
We intend to be an advocate, adviser and negotiator for the author—not an intruder on the relationship between the author and the publisher.
The basic commission we charge on advance and royalties is 15% in the home market, 15% for film/TV and 20% on the sale of rights to America and in translation.
We have excellent contacts in film and television and much experience in negotiating media contracts. We have successfully placed major projects with both American and British film and television companies. We believe we are particularly careful in keeping clients in touch with such negotiations, always consulting and advising on their needs. Through our children’s book experience, we also have extensive knowledge of merchandising.
We attend all the major book fairs—London, Bologna and Frankfurt—and regularly visit the United States of America.
Income from film and television, the sale of American and foreign rights and merchandising rights can be a significant part of the earnings of our clients.
We represent our book-writing clients in all media. We do not take on original scripts or proposals for film or television from non-book-writing clients.
