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I nod.
"It's not fair," continues Teal. "If only she had waited a little longer, she would see the public is on your side, and she could have made a better decision."
"I am sure she will do well with whomever she has gone with. Now, forget about her. We need to bag our first client. We can wander the place later, but I want to go there now and see what you have. Can you do this, Teal?"
"I can," she replies.
She holds out the phone in front of her and starts walking down one of the many aisles between the tables. There are snippets of conversation as we pass, and they ebb and flow like waves on the sand. You could spend a week here and still not have a chance to meet everyone. I do not know how independent authors do it. They have to fight against the established authors and then the thousands of other independent authors to get their foot in the door.
"I am glad we are starting with small independent authors," I whisper. "It feels like we are helping those who need it."
"Good. I think so too."
It feels like we walk for half an hour before we reach James. Teal takes a hold of my wrist, and I stop walking.
"I'll go over there and speak to him. Can I call on you if I need any help with figures and stuff like that?"
"You can count on it."
"All right. Well, wish me luck."
"Good luck." I almost lean in to kiss her before she goes over there.
I watch her ass as she goes, and then I move in closer to monitor what she says to him. I cannot get close enough with so many people around to hear exactly what she says, but I can see by their body language that she puts James at ease almost immediately.
I watch as he smiles when talking to Teal. She has an effect on people. I know she has that effect on me. I know from researching James that he has spoken to over a dozen publishing companies. Most have rejected him, but he has rejected at least two, and there is one more waiting to hear back. I respect that and dislike it at the same time. I do not need to start out with a stubborn client.
But what does it matter to me? Teal is the one who will have to deal with him, and if she wants to bring him aboard, then she has that right. If she can deal with him, there is no issue.
Teal turns to me and waves me over. I finally get to join the meeting.
"Mr. Greenwood tells me that he wants to sign with us but needs streaming rights included in the deal."
"Yeah," adds James. "I know that there is not a lot of money on books for a small-time author, but if you get a streaming deal, that's where the money is."
"No," I say.
"No?" James repeats.
Teal gets a call and holds up a finger to indicate she will be right back.
"I cannot guarantee you a streaming deal, Mr. Greenwood."
"Then we don't have a deal."
"All right, but let me ask you this. How many other publishers have you asked for the same thing?"
"All of them," he says.
"And how many have agreed to that ask?"
"Well, none so far, but I'm still waiting on one to get back to me."
"Look, I understand where you are coming from, and I cannot guarantee you much money based on one book. What I can give you is a guarantee that we will not cramp your style. You will get to write the books you want, and if this first book sells well, we will give you an advance to write up to three more, depending on what you pitch to us. I cannot guarantee you any movie, TV, or streaming rights, but I can tell you that I will fight for whatever you want if the work deserves it. If I am being honest with you, Mr. Greenwood, I did not start this company to make money. I started it because more and more authors are coming into the industry and being told what to write. I want your creativity to be preserved."
"Well, that all sounds great, but can you back it up? You don't have any clients yet, do you?"
"No, we do not, and I cannot back it up. All I can give you is my word and a price for your book. This book will sell, and you will make money from it no matter who you go with. However, you will not get the same offer from everyone. And, if you are ouronlyclient, think how much time we will spend promoting your book."
