What's the strangest thing about being an author?

[yesthattom]

The fact that the book gets translated without me finding out until I happen upon it on the web, or I get a royalty statement. So far all the translators have been able to do their job without contacting me (except one, who found a typo and had a question about my humor).

Today I realized that in addition to the French version, it’s now available in German, Polish, and Japanese. (Zeitmanagement and Zarządzanie and 時間管理術)

More on my sysadmin blog: everythingsa

Comments

Actually

[mrfantasy.livejournal.com]

I think your Time Management book might be a bit more effective in German ;-).

And

[mrfantasy.livejournal.com]

Does your publisher, or the foreign language publisher, at least give you copies of the book?

The Japanese one looks cool, but man, it's over 2400 yen!

[docstrange.livejournal.com]

That may be odd, but it's insanely cool.

Now, mind, you're sure "時間管理術" means what you think it means? Not, "Crazy American talks about computer stuff" or "We ski tomorrow, weather permitting"?

[whitebird.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing it means "Vote For Bush."

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

I verified it with a co-worker :)

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

Sheesh, you didn't know the translated versions were happening at all, or you just didn't know they were finished? I see some writers online talking about just having sold the rights in this or that country, but maybe your publisher just puts out lots of different versions?

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

I had no idea it was even being done. My contract has pre-negotiated excellent parameters for foreign/translated sales (its one of the ways that O'Reilly treats authors so well) so they are free to seek translation deals without me.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

I guess they don't exactly need to keep resending you the cover art for approval, but you'd think it would be an easy way to help keep authors happy, sending updates about things like that. Anyway, congratulations!