power notes
week of 18.10.08
The Corn Agency parts ways with Le Clezio,
winner of 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature
Oct. 18, 2008
In a stunning turn of events, Jean Marie Gustave Le Clezio, the 2008 Nobel literature laureate, will not be represented in the future by The Corn Agency, which bills itself as "America's premier boutique literary agency."
A spokesperson for the agency said the parting of ways was mutual, if not pleasant. According to agency liaison Scottie Upplebottom, The Corn Agency was engaging in preliminary negotiations for the Indian foreign rights to "Desert" when the "framework for future discussions with Mr. Le Clezio suddenly collapsed."
"There will be no ongoing relationship between The Corn Agency and Mr. Le Clezio," said Upplebottom during a teleconference from the agency's home office in Asheville, North Carolina. "We had a buyer [DC Books] ready and waiting in India [specifically Kerala, the southernmost and arguably the most literate state in India] who was chomping at the bit for a translation of Mr. Le Clezio's work, but Mr. Le Clezio's representative dropped the ball and, regrettably, would not step out of the way on Mr. Le Clezio's behalf, dooming him to obscurity not only in the United States, but now, sadly, in Kerala as well."
Le Clezio issued no comment on the matter, and his representative at Editions Gallimard SA issued only a short statement in French, confirming that no ongoing relationship exists between Le Clezio and The Corn Agency.
John "Jackie" Corn, founder of The Corn Agency, acknowledged that he placed Mr. Le Clezio on The Bum List, Mr. Corn's virtual blacklist that he regularly updates. His decision to do so before negotiations closed "was likely" the reason for the termination of the relationship, Corn concedes.
"I can't keep you from getting on The Bum List, not until you've signed on the line," Mr. Corn said in a statement released by his office following the teleconference.
Mr. Le Clezio is the author of "Desert" and "The Flood." He is 68 years old.
More information on the web:
http://www.thecornagency.com
http://www.gallimard.fr/
week of 10.10.08
Oct. 2008 Bum List released
10 Oct., 2008—It is not my usual negotiating tactic to Bum List an author on whose behalf I am currently powering through a massive foreign rights deal. However, it is my duty to Bum List Jean Marie Gustave Le Clezio, who, despite winning the 2008 Nobel prize for literature, is still a complete unknown in the United States. This got me thinking there must be a reason for such anonymity. Rather than complete this deal only to open myself and my agency, The Corn Agency, to warranted criticism, I am officially Bum Listing Le Clezio before settling the final terms for translation rights to Le Clezio's work. This way, I can gain financially, while also pointing out that I recognized the poor prospects for this struggling writer before I even agreed to squeeze money out of some Indians on his behalf while simultaneously whittling down his publisher's demands for foreign-rights compensation to nothing more than a plea to please take the foreign rights for Mr. Le Clezio's works on a handshake, and Godspeed. Now Bum Listed, Le Clezio is doomed to further obscurity in the United States, but as his foreign rights representative, The Corn Agency pledges to make those Indians pay dearly to read his works in Sanskrit or whatever it is they read in India. So, my sincerest apologies to Mr. Le Clezio [what is "the Clezio" anyhow? My house translator believes "Clezio" means "wolverine" in French. Can someone please verify?] and also my best wishes to Mr. the Clezio who should be shaking in his le poo while I drive a bargain down his French agent's impotent wine-stripped throat. Stay posted for updates. J"J"CA word about power notes:
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