Reader test
Before you sell the rights or pay for a translation, find out who wants the book
We call it the “Dickens experiment” (see What is the "Dickens experiment"? below).
What it is
It's a way to find out whether readers in another language want a book before paying to translate all of it.
- We translate the first chapters of a book
- Publish them online in the new language, under the publisher's name
- The first chapter is free. Readers who want more give their email and pay a small amount to keep reading
- The numbers show whether the whole book is worth translating
What is the "Dickens experiment"?
Charles Dickens published his novels a chapter at a time, and readers bought each instalment as it appeared.
How do readers find the book?
Each experiment starts with a plan for reaching readers in that language, written for the book's subject. Depending on the book, it can include the associations, journals, newsletters and online communities that already read about the subject; social media in that language; search, with the site built so that search engines and AI assistants can recommend the book; and local partners, such as a bookshop, a distributor or a publisher in that country. Each chapter shows who came, from where, and who asked for more.
How does the publisher earn from it?
From what readers pay. The first chapter is free; readers who want more give their email and pay a small amount to keep reading, and the publisher earns from what they pay. If the book does well, the publisher also has the numbers (how many read it, who they are, how many paid) to sell the rights to a local publisher, publish a full edition, or take the next book into the same market.
Does the publisher give up any rights?
No. The rights stay with the publisher, nothing is published without its agreement, and the website belongs to the publisher. If the book does well, the publisher decides what happens next.
What does it cost?
We quote per experiment: which book, which language, how many chapters.
How do I order it?
Ask your distributor, or write to us.