We Have Our Publisher!

In the end, it came down to two great offers from two great publishers. Thomas Nelson is the world's 9th largest publisher and one of its most prosperous. Wiley is the world's leading business book publisher, with four of the top 25 books on last year's New York Times best-seller list. People we know and trust gave us sterling endorsements of both houses.

Both publishers made us offers that we considered more than generous. Nelson's CEO, Mike Hyatt blogs. emailed us notes on his enthusiasm for this project and posted comments on The Red Couch. Brian Hampton, who courted us, was steady and persuasive in arguing for Nelson.  His most compelling theme: Nelson understands blogging and is committed to evangelizing the category.

In the end, we chose Wiley.  They made us a better offer. They went through great extremes to close the deal and in so doing, made an impressive closing-minutes play to land us. It worked.

On Monday, Valentine's Day, three senior Wiley team members flew out to Scottsdale, to meet up with Robert and I, who were attending DEMO.  It was sweetheart's night at Scottsdale Mason's and here we were, five guys trying to talk business amid a roomful of sweethearts, whose drinking and noise levels were continuously elevating.

As Robert enjoyed a fresh Maine lobster about the size of the combined New England states and I savored one of the best Porterhouses I've had in years, we talked--or rather shouted business, it being the only way we could hear each other. David Mayhew, a "big books" marketing guy explaimed how the book would be promoted and advertised on a global level. Jim Minatel, the senior acquisitions editor who has managed our relationshio, made us extremely comfortable and we found ourselves believing that this relationship would really be a partnership.

In all, we raised about ten issues and the satisfoed us on each.  Yet one issue remained and it could have been a deal breaker.  "How can we write a book saying that businesses need to blog if they are to survive," I asked, "if our own publisher didn't blog." 

After some discussion, Joe Wikert, vice president and publisher agreed to start blogging, if Robert would teach him the finer points. We would write about the experience as a case for "The Red Couch."

That was it.  We clinked glasses.  We had a deal.  The contract details have been discussed and all barriers seem to be resolved.  It feels like we are on the same team. "This could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship," as Bogie once said.

Next week, we start Chapter One.

Comments

[ArtCollector]

How do you like TypePad compared to MSN Spaces? Congrats on getting your publisher.

[/pd]

Con'grats in closing the deal. Now the hard works Begins !!!

Do you still have the same timelines Q2/06 ?

[Shannon Clark]

Robert and Shel - echoing others but let me be one of the first to congratulate you both - fantastic news and well desrved (though now comes the really hard part...)

Looking forward to watching the book evolve in front of us...

Shannon

[Steven Streight aka Vaspers the Grate]

Way to Go Robert. Way to Go Shel. Way to Go Wiley.

Now the fun and easy part comes.

Fun because you love blogging. Easy because you know a lot about blogging and have about 12 books inside you already. This is just the first.

Now stop partying, and become a monk in a secluded cell, a hermit in a hole, a mystic in a cave...

...and write.

I am emailing you Robert and Shel an imporant message.

Hope you kindly reply promptly to it, as a little favor.

ConGratUlatiONs!!!!!

I'm as excited as if it was my lucky day. Maybe it is.

This is a good day for ALL bloggers. Let's all Rejoice!

[Rodrigo A. SEPULVEDA SCHULZ]

I like the way you described how you chose a partner, how each party wooed the other, and how you finally ironed out differences. I wish you 3 best of success, and I look forward to reading the book in print.
Regards - R.

[Michael Hyatt]

Robert and Shel,

Congratulations. Naturally, I'm disappointed. I really had hoped to publish your book. But you made a good choice. Wiley will do a great job for you. And the book will be a bestseller. Mark my words. I've been in this business for 25 years, and I think this has all the marks of a winner.

All the best,

Mike Hyatt

[shel israel]

Mike,

What an incredibly gracious man you are, as you have demonstrated throughout this process. Thanks for the very kind words once again.

[Jozef Imrich]

Congratulations Robert and Shel!

The Literary Equivalent of Crossing the Iron Curtain ;-)

I will be czeching out Amazon.com

[Toby]

Congrats! guys...one step closer. Thanks for sharing the adventure with us.

[joe smith]

come on, be transparent, how much did you get?

i'm not kidding, the community wants to know....

[shel israel]

Joe,

And who authorized you to speak for the community?

[joe smith]

It's a turn of phrase Shel, as a writer, you might want to familiarize yourself with the concept....

guess an open conversation closes down when it comes to $$'s

Wasn't looking for an argument, was just giving you what I thought was a good-natured poke in the ribs, since you wrote about their "better offer" and your lobster dinner with the boys...your skin must be pretty thin in those parts...

I wish you luck...

[Robert Scoble]

We agreed to a non-disclosure to enter into these negotiations. Sorry. Can't talk about the numbers.

[joe smith]

Understandable, thanks for the kind reply Robert. Hope it was for a good penny and more importantly hope it is a big success...

[Juliana Aldous Atkinson]

Congratulations Shel and Robert! I'm glad you found a home at Wiley. I reported up to Joe for about a minute a few years ago at Ziff-Davis Press. He has a great rep in the industry and I'm sure he and his team will do great work for you. Just remember, though, don't settle for just the tech shelf and push for the business shelf!
--Juliana

[Jeff Muchnik]

Publishing Company would like to Network-Jeff Muchnik-Vincent Press
I am inquiring as to whether you can post our information below on your blog, email our info to any author/writer you know, and send our info to any suitable blog that you be live would be suitable. I would be eternally grateful. Thank you
As a Publishing Company with lots to offer authors and writers of all types, my Wife & I would like to make us more visible to all authors and writers who want to get their work published and sold. We have contacts with PR, Websites, Internet Marketing, Advertising, Accountants, Lawyers, Sales, Fulfillment, Editing, Proofreading, TV/Radio, Books Fair, and other companies that can start or grow the sales of any type of written material. We, Vincent Press Publishing Inc., in San Diego, CA can be reached by email at jeffmuchnik@yahoo.com. Thank you to all who are Mensches.

Jeff Muchnik

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