myself and another inherited the rights to my late uncles childrens stories, they are all now out of print with rights reverted. I got in touch with various agents about republishing and one in particular was interested in trying once she read one. So my late uncle was with a particular agent and although the books have been out of print for some years we had just never officially left them. Obviously I need to leave them to get anywhere but it needs both myself and my late uncles partner to both agree as we have a 50/50 split. I have no contact with her but when I approached the agent they say she does not want to leave them but wants no contact with me . So my question is where do I stand? I have now lost the chance with this other agent as I cant commit but I also cant approach anyone else in the future as ill have the same problem. Any ideas anyone?
Hi Emilie, there's been no contact between us for probably ten years, I didn't really know her as my uncle moved in with her only a shortish time before he died. I did write to her myself but she ignored it and just went through the agent who sent me two lines asking why I want to leave them, what I propose to do with the books and that she didn't want direct contact with me. The agent I did have lined up was quite worried about getting involved while the old agent was on the scene saying it could be seen as poaching. So I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place xx
You could TRY to get an agent to write to your uncle's partner, saying that they believe there's a future for the books... and money for her.
But there are several cases of partners who DON'T wish to have their dead mate's work in print. The famous explorer, Sir Richard Burton, left behind his collection of international ('primitive') erotic artifacts together with his essays about them. His prudish widow burned the lot.
How well do you get on with your uncle's partner? Would it be possible to change her mind, yourself?
Ah I also meant partner as in living with not to do with the books