Germany Still Paying Up
by John F. Baker -- Publishers Weekly, 10/20/2003
Despite some dire pictures of the German publishing doldrums that emerged at the Frankfurt fair, there were still decent advances forthcoming for Anglo-American titles from its publishers. Two examples: Cologne-based Luebbe paid a six-figure sum at auction that was higher than the U.K. advance for a series of police thrillers by new British author Craig Russell about a Hamburg cop who is half-Scottish. London agent Carole Blake made the deal for Blood Eagle and two other titles, and is looking for U.S. offers this week. And Random's rights director Claire Tisne got a mid-six-figures paperback preempt from Bertelsmann for the next book by Prague author Arthur Phillips. It was a two-book deal for a thriller about an obsessive Egyptologist, The Empty Chamber, and another work; Holland is also in, and U.K. rights will close next week.
