The literary era since 1979

Chapter 256 Recommend you a good book

After spending several days, I finally collected all of the more than 9000 pieces of calligraphy and paintings from the History Museum.

Fangyan was in a good mood and made an appointment with Mike at Donglaishun, which they were both familiar with. At that time, business was booming and the seats were full.

Steam was rising from the copper pots on the tables.

Plates of red and white lamb were arranged in a circle.

"Awesome, awesome!"

Mike picked up the chopsticks, rinsed it, and put it into his mouth.

The two chatted while eating. Fangyan picked up a piece of mutton and said, "That means the novel will be published in early March, right?"

Mike nodded and said that Random House would first distribute the products to major cities in several eastern and western states. If sales were good, they would expand outward and gradually distribute the products nationwide.

Fangyan asked directly about the manuscript fee and royalties, "7440 US dollars, will I get % or % in the end?"

Mike shook his head and held up five fingers:
"Teacher Fang, it's neither. It's 54.5%."

"Why is there an extra 10%?"

"Uh, Mr. Fang, I didn't ask for your consent beforehand, and I just took the initiative to ask my dad to help you avoid taxes."

Mike gave an awkward but polite smile.

I was very interested in the dialect and asked him to explain it in detail.

Mike told everything he knew, saying that tax avoidance could actually be done better if an offshore account could be opened.

For example, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands...

"No matter what, thank you and your father."

Fang Yan said: "I am already very surprised to get an extra 10%."

"You're too kind."

Mike said truthfully: "He also asked me to tell you that if possible, it would be best to open a subsidiary in the Cayman Islands and transfer the copyright of "Saving Private Ryan" to this company. In this way, you can collect royalties through authorized use, but I can't tell you how to operate it specifically..."

Is this considered the “stupid son” of the landlord?
Fangyan shook his head and laughed, changing the subject:
"You and your father both think the novel will be a big hit in America?"

“It will definitely sell well!”

"Why are you so sure?"

"I told you before that there has been a trend of veterans publishing in the United States in recent years, and there is actually a reason behind it."

Mike said seriously.

Since the Annan War, the US military's image has been greatly damaged and its morale has been low. American society has gradually come to dislike and even discriminate against the military.

Ling Zong, a Hollywood actor-turned-general, has stepped up publicity efforts in cultural fields such as film and literature since taking office. He has always focused on the U.S. military during World War II to restore its image, glorify and deify it, get rid of the shadow, and boost morale.

Then he shrugged, "Like his campaign slogan, Let's Make America Great, that includes the military."

How come this is exactly the same as what a certain real estate developer said.

MAGA!

Fang Yan smiled and said, "I didn't expect you to know so much."

"No, no, no, these are what my father told me."

Mike raised his hand and said that his father also told him that there is a chain of contempt among American veterans.

Veterans of World War II have always been treated as heroes, and they always come out in high spirits and with high morale on various commemorative days.

The second is World War I. As for the veterans returning from Annan, they have the worst reputation and will not receive any respect at all.

"No wonder."

"If I have the chance, I really want to talk to your father in person."

Fangyan listened patiently and suddenly understood.

No wonder Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone in "First Blood", was repeatedly harassed and bullied by the small town police chief.

"My dad thought so too!"

Mike smiled and said, "He really wants to meet you, and he plans to recommend the book to his friends after the novel is published."

...............

The country clubs in the United States originated from the old British clubs, but they are still different from the aristocratic clubs with strict gates. The threshold for admission varies.

There are clubs like the Palm Beach Country Club, where membership fees are as high as $30 and most of the people there are wealthy Jewish people, and there are also clubs like the Community Country Club, which are full of "respectable" middle-class families.

But no matter whether the threshold is low or high, it is full of human relationships and social conventions. Maybe even if Hawking comes, we have to toast him.

Members can taste red wine, smoke cigars, play golf or tennis, and communicate with each other.

"boom!"

Old Mike swung the club, and the ball flew out, drawing a parabola in the air.

"nice shot!"

"Clap clap clap."

On the golf course, everyone applauded.

One of them joked: "Johnson, you look so radiant recently, have you encountered something good?"

"Little Mike wrote a novel."

Wilson gave his old friend a teasing look. "It's called Blood and Sand. It's about his time in World War II."

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately aroused everyone's interest.

Old Mike stuck his golf club on the ground, raised his chin, his face full of pride, and said that "Blood and Sand" had been picked up by Random House and would be published soon.

"When the time comes, I will definitely take a good look at it."

"me too."

"..."

"But then again, I remember that little Mike liked movies and had never been interested in literature. How did he suddenly write a novel? Could it be because he went to the mysterious China?"

Everyone had a lively discussion and laughed a lot.

Old Mike nodded. "He met a very good teacher there, named Fang, who is a very famous writer in China and is very good at writing military novels. Blood and Sand was successfully completed under the guidance of this famous teacher."

"A Chinese writer?!"

Wilson and others found it more and more interesting.

"Yeah, and he also wrote a novel about World War II."

Old Mike seemed to recommend it to everyone unintentionally.

"A World War II military novel written by a Chinese?"

"Are you sure it's about us American soldiers? Not them?"

"Wow! I've seen World War II novels written by us and the British, but I've never seen one written by the Chinese."

"..."

“Johnson, have you read this book?”

"Of course!"

Faced with each question, Old Mike answered patiently.

Wilson asked, "What do you think? Does it look good?"

"It's not a question of whether it's good or not. It's really rare. I dare say that only Orientals can write such a great novel." Old Mike had a serious face and a serious tone.

When everyone saw that even old friends who were not interested in literature were full of praise for "Saving Private Ryan", they became more and more curious and wanted to see what the content of the book was like.

Out of such curiosity, many people bought a copy of "Saving Private Ryan" on the day it was published.

Look at what the Chinese are writing.

Unfortunately, Saving Private Ryan is hard to find.

After all, the novel's first print run was just 2000 copies.

It can only be found in major cities in the western and eastern United States. On average, the circulation in each city is less than 200 copies.

Compared to Stephen King, whose first print run is often in the tens of thousands, it's definitely not comparable, but this is in line with the rules of the American publishing industry. Publishers dare not print too many copies for new or second- or third-rate authors.

For example, when JK Rowling published the first book in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, only 500 copies were printed.

2000 copies is already a relatively high number among newcomers.

Moreover, "Saving Private Ryan" did not disappoint Mike and Random House, and its sales increased. Although it cannot be said to be extremely popular or best-selling, its performance is also remarkable.

Three days later, it reached the passing line for Random House to reprint.

The first reprint was 500 copies, and the book was distributed to more states and more cities, including Iowa City, Iowa.

Paul Engel is a poet of some fame. He and his wife Nie Hualing are both consultants for the "Writers' Workshop" at the University of Iowa. Influenced by his wife, he has always been interested in China.

"Hey, look what I found in the bookstore!"

At this time, he ran to the study with a book in his hand, "I found a novel written by a Chinese writer, a military novel!"

"Military novel?"

Nie Hualing put down her writing and took the novel he handed over. The author "Yan Fang" and the title "Saving Private Ryan" caught her eyes and she couldn't help feeling curious.

Why does this name sound so familiar?
(End of this chapter)