Extended Chapter – Aaron Anderson Meets the Publisher
The publisher's office was dim, cluttered, and smelled faintly of pipe tobacco and aged manuscripts. The afternoon sun cast warm stripes through the Venetian blinds, lighting up dust particles like glitter.
Aaron Anderson sat across the desk in a brown blazer and turtleneck, legs crossed, a leather briefcase on the floor beside him. His demeanor was calm, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that hinted he wasn't just another hopeful writer.
The publisher flipped through the first page of the manuscript. Jurassic Park.
"You're an agent?" he asked, skeptically.
Aaron nodded. "CAA. Creative Artists Agency. I usually represent actors and filmmakers."
The man's eyes narrowed slightly. "So what brings you to publishing?"
Aaron offered a practiced smile. "I've just wrapped up a couple big deals. Sex, Lies, and Videotape—sold the U.S. distribution rights for $1.2 million. Cinema Paradiso—$3.2 million, international. People are starting to return my calls."
That got the publisher's attention. He leaned forward, setting the manuscript down.
"But you're here not as an agent, I take it?"
"No," Aaron said. "I'm here as a writer."
The man raised a brow.
"I know how it sounds," Aaron continued, "Agent writes a novel, thinks it's the next big thing. But this isn't guesswork. I know what sells. Jurassic Park has everything—science, danger, ethical dilemmas, dinosaurs brought back to life using ancient DNA. It's grounded and terrifying. And it's exactly what the market hasn't seen yet."
The publisher picked the manuscript back up. "And you want us to publish it… but you keep all rights?"
Aaron nodded. "Yes. I retain the full copyright, and all derivative rights. Film, TV, foreign, audio—you get none of that."
"That's a very bold statement."
"I'm offering a solid deal on book sales, though. You handle production, marketing, distribution. I get $1.10 per copy sold. Flat."
The publisher leaned back, frowning slightly. "Margins on paperbacks aren't great, Aaron. We'd usually pay authors 6 to 10% of cover price, sometimes less. You're asking for a fixed cut, and more than the usual rate."
"You're not just getting a book," Aaron replied calmly. "You're getting buzz. When this book drops, people are going to talk about it. I'll make sure of that. I know the right people in LA, in Cannes, in Venice. I've got friends who can get it in the hands of directors before it even hits shelves. This book could have a movie deal before the first reprint."
The publisher considered that for a long moment. He opened to a random page in the manuscript, read a paragraph describing a raptor attack in chilling detail, then looked back up.
"You write like Crichton."
Aaron smirked. "Yeah. Something like that."
The room went quiet as the publisher tapped a pen against his desk, eyes flicking from Aaron to the manuscript, then to the draft contract Aaron had slipped into the folder.
"Alright," he said at last. "I have two conditions."
Aaron raised an eyebrow.
"You give us a six-month exclusive on the next manuscript. Just a right of first refusal. No obligations, and you have to pay $20k for advertising."
Aaron considered for a beat, then extended his hand. "Deal."
The publisher shook it. "Let's make some dinosaurs famous."
Updated Royalty Structure:
Aaron gets $1.10 per book sold, flat rate.
Publisher covers all production, marketing(except these $20k), and distribution costs.
Aaron retains 100% of all rights: copyright, foreign, film, merchandise, sequels, etc.
Publisher is granted a 6-month first look deal for his next book—smart for both parties.
END OF THE CHAPTER....