From Manhattan to Milan: An Interview with Allison Malecha, Director of Foreign Rights

For our inaugural episode of Season 2 of How Books Work, Julie and Alice delve into the obtuse world of foreign rights, perhaps one of the least understood aspects of the publishing industry. Did you know, for instance, that half of all books published in Germany are translations, while only 3% of US publications are? Or that UK publishers are now booking their schedules so far in advance that some editors can't take on anything new until 2027? Have you ever had the surreal experience of finally selling a book, then hearing from your agent that it also sold abroad, then months later, getting sent your book, but with a completely different cover and in a language that you don't understand? How do these deals actually happen? And what determines whether your book finds readers in Italy versus Japan versus nowhere abroad at all?

To get answers to these mysteries, Julie and Alice speak with Allison Malecha, Director of Foreign Rights at Trellis Literary Management. Allison explains the hidden world of foreign scouts and shares stories of authors who flopped in America but became bestsellers in France. Whether you're curious about advances abroad or wondering why American narrative nonfiction still has such cachet internationally, then this conversation is for you.