On June 28, 2023, Novum Publisher London released “Overcoming Business Journeys” in English as Overcoming Business Journeys in London and 8 nations in the UK, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Australia, and America, which made me incredibly happy and proud. Relatives, friends, partners, and business colleagues are all intrigued and impressed.
I recall when I published my second book Overcoming Business Journeys, and it was well received by many people, but there were also those who felt that the first book I wrote was better, more motivating, and easier to read. and not as dense as the second. I believe it is beneficial to have a work that is both applauded and criticised after its release and does not go unnoticed. But then another notion occurred to me: if there are many Vietnamese readers interested, then somewhere in the world’s 8 billion individuals are also interested in this work.
I am the CEO of an import-export company that does business with various countries and ethnicities. I simply think: “If I sell coffee and pepper all over the world, the book isn’t too difficult.” We have representatives from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and America all around the world.” So I went out to find a means to publish the book in other countries.
When I say I want to translate into English, German, French, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish, the vast majority believe it’s silly and wasteful, but I have a newspaper editor friend who always encourages me. “Why not?” I think when I write. You are free to do whatever you choose.” In fact, when people talk nonsense, they don’t grasp my daily work or the benefits I have. I believe the most important factor is whether or whether my tale is good. Then, in the office, I formed a book publishing support group.
I approached MCBooks Publishing, a Vietnamese publisher, to translate it into English. The contract negotiation and conclusion are relatively quick. However, translation and editing labor is time-consuming and tedious. Check to see if the translation corresponds to the original. Is the English spelling and translation correct? Fortunately, the translation and editorial support team is proficient in English, and there is also a Romanian staff member who is fluent in English.
After four months, the English manuscript was in the box, so it was printed and sent to a publisher. The first time was full of surprises, but it was also quite interesting. If you want to print a book in France, you must translate it into French; if you want to print it in Spain, you must translate it into Spanish… but not into English. And English should only be sent to publications in the United Kingdom, the United States, or other English-speaking countries.
However, we sent the book to ten non-UK publishers, of which eight were rejected and two appeared to be interested. I received an email from Novum Publishing in London, UK, after a week. They stated that their Frankfurt, Germany branch had provided them with this manuscript, which piqued their curiosity. As a result, they called me immediately and sent me a comprehensive contract. I was overcome with joy when I received an email. I contacted my friends and colleagues, who were all overjoyed, but this is still quite new to Vietnamese authors.
We discussed it with the publisher for a week, then submitted it to my counsel for a preliminary assessment. During the conversation, the contract standardized all data and terms, which I find pretty convenient for a novice author like myself. So I signed a contract and began working with the publisher on projects.
The work with this Novum London Publishing House is highly detailed; they have terms to help the author and co-edit the specifics with the author; they edit and send it back to me till I approve. The text has finally been completed after 5 months of endless exchanges, revisions, and comments from the publisher. The form is then designed till the author is content.
I learned from them that they have high regard for the work and the author, that they are exceedingly patient, and that they never finish anything unless the author is completely satisfied. They are really professional and considerate, but most importantly, they enjoy my work and do it with great professionalism. That brings me great joy and pride. We trade commodities to 102 nations, and I’ve always been a pessimist. Furthermore, the editing of cultural, linguistic, and literary works and stories has blurred the lines.
I learned from them that they have high regard for the work and the author, that they are exceedingly patient, and that they never finish anything unless the author is completely satisfied. They are really professional and considerate, but most importantly, they enjoy my work and do it with great professionalism. That brings me great joy and pride. We trade commodities to 102 nations, and I’ve always been a pessimist. Furthermore, the editing of cultural, linguistic, and literary works and stories has blurred the lines.
After 8 months, the book’s contents were completed and produced. The London publisher prints at their Austrian press unit and provides me a hard copy for review prior to bulk production. On May 11, 2023, the publisher sent it from Austria, but I did not receive it until early July 2023 in Vietnam for confirmation. They stated because I’m the author, I’ll get 10 copies for free, and if I want more, I’ll have to pay a lower amount. I will, however, receive copyright for each book sold.
As I sit down to write these words, the book is available for £21.9 in hard copy and £17.99 in e-book format from Novum Publishing and Amazon in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, and Italy. US outlets are planned first, followed by Amazon and Asia.
Customers all throughout the world are intrigued, excited, and impressed when they hear this. My customer just provided a link to Amazon in Germany that’s sold out since he bought everything and is really pleased with himself.
I am overjoyed and wish to share this story with every Vietnamese writer. We have a lot of fantastic stories, but they are nearly all published in Vietnam, and writers and authors have never ventured to consider publishing to the rest of the world for profit. Instead of only buying and translating foreign works into Vietnamese, I believe Vietnamese publishers should discover ways to publish and sell books by Vietnamese writers around the world.
The stories of culture, people, and business are quite varied and interesting everywhere; Vietnam has its own, and world readers are eager to study and explore. Hopefully, this story will show us a more viable way to publish stories or novels by Vietnamese authors around the world.
(*) Chairman of the Phuc Sinh Group and a member of the Business Book Council
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