Sakey Moves to Dutton

The subject header pretty much tells the tale, but here's the deal memo:

Author of The Blade Itself Marcus Sakey's four books, following Ben Sevier to Dutton, for publication beginning in 2009, by Scott Miller at Trident Media Group (world).

It's a deal for what PW reports is in the "major deal" neighborhood, which kicks in after the second of Sakey's two-book contract with St. Martin's finishes up next year. So why, when I first heard the news earlier this week, did my jaw drop? Because there's a great deal of money involved for an author still considered to be unproven, Sakey follows Ben Sevier (who originally acquired THE BLADE ITSELF and its follow-up for SMP) and I really wonder what incentive Minotaur really has to promote next year's book when an author they once had plans to break out in a big way is leaving.

And if that happens and sales on book 2 aren't to expectations,  where does that leave the four books on the new contract with Dutton?

As should be obvious from anyone reading this site for a relatively extended period of time, I'm a huge fan of THE BLADE ITSELF as well as of Sakey as both a writer and a person. But this deal troubles me because even though the money sounds great (and is almost 100% impossible for an author to turn down in this situation) it could also be a serious handicap  - not just in the long run but in the middle-to-short term run. Which then underscores what was discussed in the NYT business section yesterday about how publishing's business sense is a big mystery.

My fingers are crossed, of course, that everything works out. But I can't seem to get some particular musical strains out of my head...

Comments

[Sandra Ruttan]

You said it Sarah. My first reaction when I saw the news last week was the jaw drop. Then I started to worry. Not all deals get announced... I'm really surprised they didn't keep this quiet.

[Lana Lang]

You never know. Dan Brown had three unsuccessful novels with two prior publishers before The Da Vinci Code hit.

[MJ]

I'm betting Shakey will buy back the rights to the second book or the publisher will becuase its really a tough senario if they don't - as Sarah laid out.

[Sandra Scoppettone]

This is the kind of deal that can ruin a career. I've had similar deals twice. Each was different from the other and each looked fabulous and both times I ended up a dead duck. Yes, the money was great, but in the end it wasn't worth it. I hope Sakey works this out. But even if he gets out of the deal with St. Martin, if his first book with Dutton doesn't pay out he'll be in trouble. I think it's too early in his career for a deal like this. But what do I know?

[Todd Robinson]

I think that in the worst-case scenario (SMP doesn't promote book 2), Mr. Sakey can then do his own promotional legwork (with the big Dutton bucks) and Dutton can really push the overdrive on his promotion. I don't feel that all is lost even in the worst case. If Mr Sakey does indeed have the long-term chops, then class will win out in the end.

[Todd Robinson]

I think that in the worst-case scenario (SMP doesn't promote book 2), Mr. Sakey can then do his own promotional legwork (with the big Dutton bucks) and Dutton can really push the overdrive on his promotion. I don't feel that all is lost even in the worst case. If Mr Sakey does indeed have the long-term chops, then class will win out in the end.

[David J. Montgomery]

Worst case scenario would be SMP dumps Book #2, it flops miserably, and Dutton either cancels the contract or cuts the print run back drastically due to low chain orders (in which case the book has no chance of earning out). I doubt that will happen, but you never know.

I think MJ's right that the best move is to buy back Book #2. I'd hate to see a promising writer like Sakey get hamstrung so early in his career.

Marcus' ears must be burning from all the people talking about him. :)

[Bill Peschel]

Does it really matter? Apart from getting review copies, I've never seen much in the way of promotion from St. Martin's.

[David J. Montgomery]

That's true of the typical Minotaur title, but SMP seemed to give a much more significant push for Sakey's first book.

[Lana Lang]

Minotaur publishes like a zillion books a year, with small press runs and tiny advances for its authors. But there are a handful of exceptions a year. John Hart was last year's major exception, Marcus Sakey this year's.

[Bill Peschel]

Thanks for the clarification.

[Jersey Jack]

I don't think anybody has to push Sakey's second book. Readers will pull it right off the shelves.

[Sandra Ruttan]

A further note on all of this, not that it matters to anyone else...

But I always find it interesting to see what gets pushed here, as it's different than the US market. In two provinces, in the third and fourth largest cities in Canada, I can't walk into a chain bookstore and buy Marcus's first book. I haven't found it in a single outlet once. Whatever promotion was done for TBI completely overlooked the main market in Canada.

So no matter what happens in the US for book 2, Dutton will have ground to cover for their titles on this side of the border.

By contrast, multiple copies of books from debuting authors Gregg Olsen, Philip Hawley Jr, Sean Chercover have been available in Chapters/Indigo. I'm not even going to begin speculating on why that happens. But the push an author can give their work through promotion will only take it so far. If the publisher doesn't produce a good cover, doesn't send out enough review copies early enough, doesn't push for the book to be stocked, it's an uphill battle. And in this case it may be tougher. Marcus enjoyed a lot of support and publisher promotion for book #1. Do booksellers care about the story behind the book, or will they only take note of the fact that the second book isn't being pushed?

Actually, I wish someone could answer that question. I know what bookstore owners here tell me...

Aside from that I never did say congrats Marcus. I hope it all works out for you.

[Sandra Ruttan]

A further note on all of this, not that it matters to anyone else...

But I always find it interesting to see what gets pushed here, as it's different than the US market. In two provinces, in the third and fourth largest cities in Canada, I can't walk into a chain bookstore and buy Marcus's first book. I haven't found it in a single outlet once. Whatever promotion was done for TBI completely overlooked the main market in Canada.

So no matter what happens in the US for book 2, Dutton will have ground to cover for their titles on this side of the border.

By contrast, multiple copies of books from debuting authors Gregg Olsen, Philip Hawley Jr, Sean Chercover have been available in Chapters/Indigo. I'm not even going to begin speculating on why that happens. But the push an author can give their work through promotion will only take it so far. If the publisher doesn't produce a good cover, doesn't send out enough review copies early enough, doesn't push for the book to be stocked, it's an uphill battle. And in this case it may be tougher. Marcus enjoyed a lot of support and publisher promotion for book #1. Do booksellers care about the story behind the book, or will they only take note of the fact that the second book isn't being pushed?

Actually, I wish someone could answer that question. I know what bookstore owners here tell me...

Aside from that I never did say congrats Marcus. I hope it all works out for you.

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