Interesting to see how the agents move around the globe... It's arrived in Sweden now, with Bruce's translated excerpt as added bonus. Let's hope for a good outcome.

Anna GC, March 13, 2010, 6:36p.m.

Bruce, do you have any background on this? For example, were you involved in the sale? Was the publisher's decision based on your English excerpt, on another language translation, or did they have someone who'd read the Chinese? I'm curious.

Cindy Carter, March 14, 2010, 5:16a.m.

Hi Cindy,

I bought the book when in came out in Taiwan in late 2006 but didn't get to read it until this year. I've heard lots of good things about Chi Zijian and Bruce's translation of the author's note is definitely a big reason that I finally started reading.

I read it in two days in late February. Wrote to Chi Zijian immediately and got the go-ahead to sell it abroad. The next day I found someone who's read the novel who is also a big fan of it and she agreed to write a detailed reader's report for me.

Two weeks later she delivered the report, it was great, and I sent it along with some other English material I've prepared (including Bruce's translation) to my US co-agent. She fell in love with this project and immediately sent it to her co-agents all around the world.

The international submission started on Monday, and we sold Dutch rights on Wednesday based on the report and other material. Right now we have many other foreign publishers reading and hope to have more news before London Book Fair.

Gray

Gray Tan, March 14, 2010, 2:41p.m.

Thanks for the update, Gray. That's wonderful news.

Cindy Carter, March 16, 2010, 11:01p.m.