Audi A2 Book - English version
- Thread starter Vonnie
- Start date
Vonnie
A2OC donor
Hi All,
This is the last response from the book publishers
Sorry for the long wait. I really thought, I informed you. During the meeting in Ingolstadt we could not convince them of the good idea to have the book translated. I am sorry.
Nevertheless, if you find a publisher who sees real market potential, and who would like to buy the license, I am more than happy to arrange a deal.
So unless anyone knows of a publisher who would be willing to discuss buying the license it is a no-go for the English version.
Regards Yvonne
This is the last response from the book publishers
Sorry for the long wait. I really thought, I informed you. During the meeting in Ingolstadt we could not convince them of the good idea to have the book translated. I am sorry.
Nevertheless, if you find a publisher who sees real market potential, and who would like to buy the license, I am more than happy to arrange a deal.
So unless anyone knows of a publisher who would be willing to discuss buying the license it is a no-go for the English version.
Regards Yvonne
Captain059
A2OC Donor
What a pity. I was looking forward for this book.
Thanks for trying Vonnie
Thanks for trying Vonnie
O.K., If you do, could you get two and I'll go halves with you? (There's always excellent Google translation for any interesting text)
David
KekseKaempfer
A2OC Donor
I'd be OK with a German version if there are enough people wanting one.
pipe'n'slippers
Member
I have a German version and, while my school German is not up to the technicalities, it is still (mostly) understandable.
There's been such a lot of positive ideas in the last few posts? How is it that these ideas weren't thought of initially? There now seems to be the (collective) will to achieve a suitable outcome? I'll contribute to whatever path that leads to obtaining a copy of this publication.
David
David
bretti_kivi
Member
They are suggesting the rights could be provided. That means the translation still needs to be done.
A translation of 250 pages is non-trivial in terms of time, effort and cost. Text is small and on most pages double-column; IIRC we look at work at a multi-cent cost per word. I just guesstimated one page, counting and multiplying, and get to 400 words. If it's 10c / word, a page costs €40 to translate, so €10k would be a starting point. If there's 100 books, that puts the UK price - before printing - at £100.
There are illustrations on most pages, the text needs to be re-aligned and there are some translations of diagrams to be done. Never mind the approvals process, and I'm not sure how that would go (do not assume Audi would let this out without having checked it!).
I'm mildly surprised they're not up for this, but I can get it in terms of the effort / return.
- Bret
A translation of 250 pages is non-trivial in terms of time, effort and cost. Text is small and on most pages double-column; IIRC we look at work at a multi-cent cost per word. I just guesstimated one page, counting and multiplying, and get to 400 words. If it's 10c / word, a page costs €40 to translate, so €10k would be a starting point. If there's 100 books, that puts the UK price - before printing - at £100.
There are illustrations on most pages, the text needs to be re-aligned and there are some translations of diagrams to be done. Never mind the approvals process, and I'm not sure how that would go (do not assume Audi would let this out without having checked it!).
I'm mildly surprised they're not up for this, but I can get it in terms of the effort / return.
- Bret
TYP 8Z
Member
Publishing rights/ licensing are not cheaper either. I think they are missing an amazing opportunity not to make the book available in English as it would supply not just the UK market but the rest of Europe.
Google translation app on smartphones can scan and translate any printed text. This is how I "read" the whole book. It's a bit tedious but manageable ?
Google translation app on smartphones can scan and translate any printed text. This is how I "read" the whole book. It's a bit tedious but manageable ?
bretti_kivi
Member
The reference for pretty much all of the book is the German market. That's where it was born, that's where the desire and taxation regulations for the 5l and 3l cars came from, the AL2 Open End story and the older Audi stories are all important for the backstory of the car, but they're particularly relevant for that market.
I know for a fact that this was fact-checked and cross-read by a bunch of the German forum and there were pre-publishing versions at the meet a couple of years back. There are also some corrections to be done for edition 2, but I'm sure this is a niche-niche-niche market and I suspect that they've sold <500 copies. The (German) forum features towards the end with a list of issues with the car that he put together.
I don't see a market. If there is one, it's smaller than the German one; of the A2s sold, ca. 35% stayed in their home market, I believe.
Realistically, at a book price of at least £125 (remember those publishing rights aren't included in the translation / rebuild calculation), I don't see how many would actually take the opportunity. €40 shipped is rather different.
And please do not underestimate the requirements that Audi would have on this. The name Audi Tradition is on there, and I've seen some of their marketing requirements (for photos) and it would need to be a professional job before they'd accept it.
- Bret
I know for a fact that this was fact-checked and cross-read by a bunch of the German forum and there were pre-publishing versions at the meet a couple of years back. There are also some corrections to be done for edition 2, but I'm sure this is a niche-niche-niche market and I suspect that they've sold <500 copies. The (German) forum features towards the end with a list of issues with the car that he put together.
I don't see a market. If there is one, it's smaller than the German one; of the A2s sold, ca. 35% stayed in their home market, I believe.
Realistically, at a book price of at least £125 (remember those publishing rights aren't included in the translation / rebuild calculation), I don't see how many would actually take the opportunity. €40 shipped is rather different.
And please do not underestimate the requirements that Audi would have on this. The name Audi Tradition is on there, and I've seen some of their marketing requirements (for photos) and it would need to be a professional job before they'd accept it.
- Bret