Publishing Translated Works: Examining the Process by Taisha Mary Garby B.A., University of Victoria, 2008 Project Report in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Publishing in the Publishing Program Faculty of Communication, Art, and Technology © Taisha Mary Garby 2015 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Fall 2015 All rights reserved. However, in accordance with the Copyright Act of Canada, this work may be reproduced, without authorization, under the conditions for Fair Dealing. Therefore, limited reproduction of this work for the purposes of private study, research, education, satire, parody, criticism, review and news reporting is likely to be in accordance with the law, particularly if cited appropriately. Approval Name: Taisha Mary Garby Degree: Master of Publishing Title: Publishing Translated Works: Examining the Process John Maxwell Senior Supervisor Associate Professor Juan Alperin Supervisor Assistant Professor Nancy Flight Industry Supervisor Associate Publisher, Greystone Books Ltd. Date Approved: December 18, 2015 ii Abstract Greystone Books Ltd., based in Vancouver, publishes many translated works. This report is intended to examine the benefits of publishing translated works and compare that to publishing original English language works. This report will analyze two translated works: Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders, which was translated from German to English, and 1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think by Raif Badawi, which was translated from Arabic to English. Greystone Books’ process for publishing translated works will be explored to understand how its acquisition, translation, editorial, and marketing and publicity processes work. These will be compared to Greystone’s processes for publishing original English language works. Two case studies will be presented to further evaluate Greystone’s process for publishing translated works. Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders had a regularly-paced schedule and an accessible author, whereas 1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think by Raif Badawi had a very tight schedule and an absentee author. By examining these two books, this report will determine if publishing translated works is a more, less, or equally effective method than publishing original English works for Greystone. iii Dedication To Gregory Hatswell, for supporting me in more ways than one throughout this endeavour. iv Acknowledgements Thank you to Rob Sanders, Nancy Flight, Jen Croll, Lara LaMoal, Andrea Damiani, John Maxwell, and Caroline Brook and Bill Garby v Table of Contents Approval.............................................................................................................................ii Abstract............................................................................................................................. iii Dedication.........................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements............................................................................................................v Table of Contents..............................................................................................................vi List of Figures .................................................................................................................. vii Introduction............................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Greystone Books’ Process for Publishing Translated Works .............. 6 1.1. Why translated works?............................................................................................. 6 1.2. Rights Acquisition..................................................................................................... 8 1.3. Contracts................................................................................................................ 11 1.4. Translators ............................................................................................................. 13 1.5. Managing the Editorial Process ............................................................................. 15 1.6. Marketing and Publicity.......................................................................................... 17 1.7. Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 20 Chapter 2. Gut: A Case Study of Success............................................................... 23 2.1. Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ by Giulia Enders.................................................................................................................... 23 2.2. Acquisition.............................................................................................................. 25 2.3. Translation ............................................................................................................. 25 2.4. Managing the Editorial process.............................................................................. 26 2.5. Marketing and Publicity.......................................................................................... 26 2.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 28 Chapter 3. 1000 Lashes: A Case Study of Triumph Over Adversity ..................... 29 3.1. 1000 Lashes: Because I Say What I Think by Raif Badawi ................................... 29 3.2. Acquisition.............................................................................................................. 31 3.3. Translation ............................................................................................................. 32 3.4. Managing the Editorial Process ............................................................................. 35 3.5. Marketing and Publicity.......................................................................................... 35 3.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 38 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 39 References .............................................................................................. 43 vi List of Figures Figure 1 Cover Image for Gut by Giulia Enders.............................................................. 23 Figure 2 Cover Image for 1000 Lashes by Raif Badawi ................................................. 29 vii Introduction Greystone Books was founded by Rob Sanders in 1993 as an imprint of Douglas and McIntyre (D&M). In October 2012, D&M filed for bankruptcy, and in January 2013 Sanders joined forces with Rodger Touchie, president of Heritage House Publishing, to acquire all of Greystone’s assets from D&M.1 Sanders became the publisher of the reconstituted Greystone Books and Nancy Flight, who had been associate publisher of Greystone and then D&M, retained her title. Greystone Books publishes a wide range of thought-provoking and gifted Canadian and international authors, including David Suzuki, Candace Savage, Charlotte Gill, Andrew Nikiforuk, Mike Berners-Lee, Julie Angus, Brian Brett, Wayne Grady, Merilyn Simonds, Allan Casey, Wade Davis, Anita Albus, Harry Thurston, Lorna Crozier, Jane Christmas, and Paul Quarrington, among many others. Greystone is committed to protecting the environment and “uses ancient-forest-friendly, chlorine-free, 100 percent post-consumer paper in the majority of its books.”2 It only publishes non-fiction. When Greystone Books was an imprint of D&M, it often acquired foreign rights and published translated works; it has continued to do so since it became independent, and that has helped grow the business. Every year the publisher goes to the London and 1 Medley, Mark. Greystone Books rises out of the ashes of Douglas & McIntyre. Accessed August 15, 2015. http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/books/greystone-books-rises-out-of-the-ashes-of- douglas-mcintyre 2 About Greystone Books. Accessed August 20, 2015. http://greystonebooks.com/about.php 1 the Frankfurt book fairs to buy and sell rights. This has been very successful for Greystone. It also publishes original works in English, often by coming up with ideas in house and then finding a writer knowledgeable on the subject to write the manuscript. Such a writer may have the requisite knowledge but might not be a good writer. For this reason, these manuscripts may require heavy editing. But Greystone has had more successes than failures in publishing this way and will continue to do so. Greystone Books’ focus is on the environment, nature, current issues, sports, adventure, travel, literary nonfiction, explorations of a personal passion, and memoirs. Almost half of the books originated by Greystone sell overseas, and licensed editions are sold in more than 15 countries. As well as selling its own titles internationally, Greystone Books is a big proponent of acquiring foreign titles and having them translated into English. Translation is a separate part of the equation from acquiring foreign titles and rights, but the two usually go hand in hand. The only times buying foreign rights and translation do not go together are when the rights are bought from a foreign publisher in an English language territory, like the United Kingdom or Australia, and the book is