New York, USA.

In an office at Random House's headquarters, one of the world's leading publishers, Ronald Brown. Smith was talking to a reporter from The New York Times.

The journalist's name is Sophie. Alison is a veteran cultural journalist in her thirties.

"Mr. Smith, are you sure you're not joking?" Alison looked at Smith with a solemn face and asked loudly.

"No, no, no! Dear Miss Allison, I'm not joking, I'm telling the truth! We want to spend $100,000 to solicit book reviews for the book "Brothers", as long as the book reviews are well written and can be published publicly, then we can participate in this award-winning book review solicitation activity. Smith shrugged, looked at the beautiful reporter in front of him with wide eyes, and said.

"Oh! Oh, my God! Is Bertelsmann crazy? Or maybe it's your brain. For a Chinese novel, he is willing to spend such a lot of money to promote! Alison shook her head.

She really thought it was a little incredible.

Langdon, the largest publishing house in the United States, was acquired by the German Bertelsmann only last year.

Allison felt that a rigorous and pragmatic German should not be so rough, and he thought it was unbelievable that he would be willing to spend so much money for a novel by a Chinese writer.

Alison previously worked as a correspondent for New York Times in China, and she still knows China very well, and she knows more about Chinese culture and books in the American market.

Whether it is ancient classics or the works of famous modern Chinese writers, they do not sell very well.

In her opinion. The English translation of "Brothers" can sell 10,000 or 20,000 copies in the United States, which is a very good result, and I want to sell it well. Almost impossible.

Under these circumstances, Langdon was willing to pay $100,000 for the "Brothers" readers' book review contest. It's definitely an adventure!

This kind of marketing should spur American readers to buy "Brothers", but can this kind of money marketing alone really win the market?

Allison thinks that's unrealistic!

The cultural divide is sometimes insurmountable!

Many examples in the past have illustrated this point, and there will be no accidents in the publication of the English translation of this novel "Brothers" by this young man named Xiao Fei!

Hearing Allison say this, Smith smiled bitterly. Shaking his head, he said in his heart, how could a shrewd German have a brain in water? How can you be stupid?

This is obviously that Xiao Fei is making a fool of himself!

is willing to spend so much money to market his book, a full 200,000 US dollars! How many books do you sell to make a profit?

According to the price of the book "Brothers" for $20 a piece, then it will take 40,000 or 50,000 copies to make the money back, right?

If the publishing house gives out the 200,000.

As for the author who wants to get 200,000 royalties, then he must sell at least 200,000 books to make so much money!

Xiao Fei's actions are typical of losing money and making money!

However, Smith could not tell Alison the truth.

Because. The agreement signed between Langdon Bookstore and Xiao Fei has a confidentiality clause, Langdon can't tell the truth, and this money is nominally Langdon's contribution.

"Miss Allison. Say whatever you want, but we think that "Brothers" is indeed a very good and very good Chinese novel. It's worth our efforts to promote it, how about it. Do you think it's okay to write a piece of journalism? Smith said, spreading his hands.

Allison looked at Smith sarcastically and said, "Mr. Smith." My pen has a thorn, and if I report on this, it might hurt you. ”

"Oh? So how are you going to report on this, Miss Alison? Smith asked, frowning.

"Well, no comment!" Allison winked and giggled.

"You can't really write, Mr. Bertelsmann is a pig-headed, brainless guy who spends a lot of money on a novel with no future, right?" Smith said with a wry smile.

If you write it like that, it's negative news.

"Perhaps, I really wrote that." Alison said, "You already know that New York Times will not do commercial news for anyone, unpaid things, if you don't hype up some news, then how can you do it?" ”

"But, but, Miss Allison, don't you think it's big news that we at Random House can spend so much money on a book review for a Chinese novel?"

"Yes, it's unusual, it's new, it's unprecedented, it's really good news, so I'm going to write about it! However, I will also analyze what kind of stupid person would do such a bloody thing. Isn't that a normal thing? Allison shrugged and said with a coquettish smile.

"No, no, no! Merciful Miss Allison, I suggest you read this Chinese novel seriously, it is really interesting and easy to read. ”

"The things about that mysterious country it writes about are shocking."

"Our readers are curious, and they're going to love stories like this."

"You read it, you will like it, you see, I used to think the same as you, I think that Chinese novels have no future, but now that I have read this book, my mind has changed, it is really good, it is a good book."

"Miss Allison, read it, please, you read it, if you don't think it's good, how about I treat you to a big meal as compensation?"

Smith was a handsome lad, and his pleas might have had some effect.

Alison sighed and said, "Okay, okay, since you recommend it to me so strongly, then I'll read it!" Well! If it's hard to read, don't forget your words! ”

She winked at Smith and stood up.

Alison left Random House and returned to the newspaper, she had no intention of actually reading "Brothers," she was not interested in the name of the book.

It's so straightforward.

Such a book, she thinks it must be that kind of saliva novel.

She sat down at her desk, sorted out the interview, and began typing her press release.

That's right, she's a stubborn woman, and she still writes according to her original ideas.

However, while she was writing the manuscript, one of her male colleagues, who was a little interesting to her, approached and planned to say hello to her.

The male colleague saw the English version of "Brothers" on Alison's desk, and he accosted him and asked, "Can I read this book?" ”

"Take it! It's a novel written by a Chinese writer, published by Langdon, and I don't like it very much. Alison said.

"Hmmm! I'll take a look, and then let's critique it together. The male colleague said. He took the book and began to read it next to Alison. (To be continued.) )