Belfra Publishers for Success / Succes Boeken

nancyadams · May 14, 2011

just got off the phone with a fellow self-publishing friend of mine. And since I have a membership here and she doesn't, I want to give her feedback from other self-publishers...

Namely, she has been contacted by a Danish Publisher who wants to publish her already self-published book, but in Danish. Has anybody heard of http://www.succesboeken.nl ??? It's also called "Belfra Publishers for Success

What concerns ME is what she read to me: that she will only get 7% of royalties. Is this a scam? Or is this a legit company?

Nancy

James D. Macdonald · May 14, 2011

Danish? Are you sure? That URL is in the Netherlands, and the website itself is in Dutch.

shaldna · May 15, 2011

Did you have a look and see if they have a listing on the beware and background check forum?

Terie · May 15, 2011

I asked about the publisher on an author's forum where some Dutch folks hang out. Here's a reply I received (copied in its entirety with permission).

From what I read on the website, it's an odd publisher.
Their mission is "to deliver 'tools' so people can improve their lives".
They say that a lot of good books are not available in Dutch, so they publish
books they think should be translated. They even invite readers to suggest books
for them to publish in Dutch.

They list a number of books they have published in Dutch, most seem to be (pseudo-)
medical self help books or books on how to become rich. (the answer to that
question is: sell gullible people books on how to become rich, right?).

The impression I get from the website and the books they are offering is that
they are not a serious publisher.

The holding company that this publisher is part of also does business coaching,
travel and seminars.

James D. Macdonald · May 15, 2011

But to answer the original question, 7% (of what? cover price?) is not necessarily a bad deal for foreign/translation rights. It isn't unknown for the deal to be 15% royalties, half to the author, half to the translator.

And the publisher hires the translator.

Be aware that the Dutch market is only a fraction of the US market, so sales might be quite low.

IceCreamEmpress · May 15, 2011

Yes, that's definitely a Dutch company, not a Danish company.

And aren't they the people who published that book that was the laughingstock of Hollywood for a bit, after it turned out to be the reason that everyone was suddenly getting zillions of weirdly inappropriate pitches from Dutch people?

Corinne Duyvis · May 15, 2011

The publisher for that book is listed as 'Theatrebookshop' or 'Personalia', so I'm guessing not.

I can look up/translate anything specific if needed. (Sorry, I'm caught up with some other stuff so I can't spend too much time browsing the site right now.) It doesn't look like a scam, but I don't like the look of the site -- not super professional.

Deleted member 42 · May 15, 2011

Looks like a subsidy/vanity press to me.

HapiSofi · May 15, 2011

Successboeken also sells a list of English-language titles, and most people in the Netherlands at least speak utility-grade English. The deal feels flaky, but I can't point my finger at anything specific.

Make sure there's a reversion clause in the contract.

nancyadams · May 23, 2011

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I needed that feedback.

Belfra Publishers for Success / Succes Boeken

nancyadams

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Terie

Writer is as Writer does

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

IceCreamEmpress

Hapless Virago

Corinne Duyvis

My New Cat Is Too Big for Shoulders

Deleted member 42

HapiSofi

Hagiographically Advantaged

nancyadams