Robert Morales
asked
Michael J. Sullivan:
Hi Mr. Sullivan, I noticed that you have Age of Myth coming out soon on Graphic Audio. Are there any plans for the Riyria series? Well thank you for your time and I love the books.
Michael J. Sullivan
Hey Robert,
Thanks for asking. Before I answer, I have to give a bit of "publishing background" so bear with me. When an author signs a traditional publishing contract, there are a number of rights that are transferred to the publisher. In the "old days" it was just print rights (usually in the form of hardcover and print rights -- and sometimes those paperback rights were sold to a different publisher than acquired the hardcover - as was the case in Stephen King's debut novel, Carrie). Anyway, then ebooks came out and publishers started requiring ebook rights and audio rights. The Riyria books were my first published novels, and while I tired to "hold back" the audio rights, my agent wasn't able to make that happen (although she was able to hold onto the foreign rights translations - a good thing!). Anyway, what this means is that Oribt (fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group) has sole and exclusive right to make all decisions related to the audio books.
At the time I signed over those rights, I thought they weren't a big deal. In fact I thought (a) the chances of getting an audio book made was next to impossible (they are costly to produce) and (b) if they were made, they wouldn't result in much money - historically audio book sales have been about 5% - 10% of total sales.
So, as I said Orbit acquired those rights, and we haven't been successful with convincing them to have Graphic Audio produce an dramatic audio version.
Now I should note, that audio rights are now VERY lucrative. In fact those original Riyria audio rights which sold for a few thousand dollars have now gone on to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars (all of which is split by myself and Orbit).
Anyway, when I started writing the Legends of the First Empire series, Robin (my wife and business manager) came up with the smart idea of selling the audio rights first so they would be "off the table" when negotiating the contracts. For this reason, I control the audio rights for that series, so when Graphic Audio came knocking, I was able to say "yes please." And that is why The Legends of the First Empire is getting a dramatic version and Riyria is not.
So, as for "are there plans for the Riyria series." From my perspective I would very much like to do that, and if it were in my power to give the "go ahead" we would have them in production. But it's not my call, so I have to rely on Orbit to say yay or nay, and so far it has been nay.
TL:DR Version - I don't posses the right to make Graphic Audio decisions for Riyria, so whether there will be dramatic versions will be Orbit's call, and so far they have not been receptive to the idea. But for The Legends of the First Empire series (where I control the audio rights) I've been able to exercise the option and that is why dramatic versions of that series are being produced.
I hope that wasn't too confusing.
Thanks for asking. Before I answer, I have to give a bit of "publishing background" so bear with me. When an author signs a traditional publishing contract, there are a number of rights that are transferred to the publisher. In the "old days" it was just print rights (usually in the form of hardcover and print rights -- and sometimes those paperback rights were sold to a different publisher than acquired the hardcover - as was the case in Stephen King's debut novel, Carrie). Anyway, then ebooks came out and publishers started requiring ebook rights and audio rights. The Riyria books were my first published novels, and while I tired to "hold back" the audio rights, my agent wasn't able to make that happen (although she was able to hold onto the foreign rights translations - a good thing!). Anyway, what this means is that Oribt (fantasy imprint of Hachette Book Group) has sole and exclusive right to make all decisions related to the audio books.
At the time I signed over those rights, I thought they weren't a big deal. In fact I thought (a) the chances of getting an audio book made was next to impossible (they are costly to produce) and (b) if they were made, they wouldn't result in much money - historically audio book sales have been about 5% - 10% of total sales.
So, as I said Orbit acquired those rights, and we haven't been successful with convincing them to have Graphic Audio produce an dramatic audio version.
Now I should note, that audio rights are now VERY lucrative. In fact those original Riyria audio rights which sold for a few thousand dollars have now gone on to bring hundreds of thousands of dollars (all of which is split by myself and Orbit).
Anyway, when I started writing the Legends of the First Empire series, Robin (my wife and business manager) came up with the smart idea of selling the audio rights first so they would be "off the table" when negotiating the contracts. For this reason, I control the audio rights for that series, so when Graphic Audio came knocking, I was able to say "yes please." And that is why The Legends of the First Empire is getting a dramatic version and Riyria is not.
So, as for "are there plans for the Riyria series." From my perspective I would very much like to do that, and if it were in my power to give the "go ahead" we would have them in production. But it's not my call, so I have to rely on Orbit to say yay or nay, and so far it has been nay.
TL:DR Version - I don't posses the right to make Graphic Audio decisions for Riyria, so whether there will be dramatic versions will be Orbit's call, and so far they have not been receptive to the idea. But for The Legends of the First Empire series (where I control the audio rights) I've been able to exercise the option and that is why dramatic versions of that series are being produced.
I hope that wasn't too confusing.
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