An enterprising author who started her own small publishing house last year because she got tired of dealing with mainstream publishers has come up with what she believes (and we can't disprove her) is a completely novel rights deal. Charlotte Vale Allen has sold a major distributor to the library market exclusive library rights to 15 of her titles, published in paperback mostly 20 years ago, for a sum she describes as "in the mid-six figures." The books, with the exception of one that was published only in England, were all issued by Warner and NAL in the '70s, a time when libraries were simply not buying paperback books, said Allen, and the rights had all reverted to her. Her Island Nation Press, based in Connecticut, has designed and printed the hardcover books, which have laminated photographic covers, and the distributor, said Allen, paid for them in an unprecedented 30 days. The first three titles, Gifts of Love, Time of Triumph and Perfect Fools (these were not her suggested titles, she insisted) have already been shipped and are being sold into libraries. "I really think I've started something new here," said the happy author.