Huayu Entertainment: Tianxian really wants to improve

Chapter 75 What is a best-selling author?

"Oh my God! Bruce, you are so cold!"

Joel stopped and looked Gu Bei up and down. "You should wear the suit as casual clothing. It's very handsome. This look is very similar to the look in your short film."

"Where did you see the report?"

Gu Bei was a little surprised when he heard this.

The sound engineer never screened it publicly, and it was only reported in the news at the Sundance Film Festival.

"It was in the Boston Globe. I can't quite remember the date, but it was probably a few days after you told me you won the award."

Joel smiled and said, "Congratulations to you in person this time. It seems that you really have a chance to enter Hollywood!"

Gu Bei smiled.

Have the opportunity?
He has already stepped half a foot into Hollywood.

The remaining half foot is just waiting for the release of Whiplash.

But it is kept secret and there is no need to publicize it.

"Let's go, the car is waiting for us downstairs."

Qiao Er invited Gu Bei to come downstairs.
A business car was waiting for two people to get in.

After Gu Bei got in, he saw a small bar in front of the extended back seat. "Didn't I remember that your publishing house's budget has always been rather tight-fisted?"

"Being stingy is how you treat others, but you are the most valued talented writer at Random House!"

Joel glanced at the driver in front, then leaned over to Gu Bei's ear and whispered, "This car was rented by Barnes & Noble, just for you."

Well, Random House is still the same stingy Random House.

As for Barnes & Noble, Gu Bei had dealt with it many times when he was touring and signing books for "The Fault in Our Stars" throughout North America.

After all, the largest offline bookstore chain in North America,

Although they have been defeated by Amazon in the past two years, their ancestors did live a rich life after all.

At least in terms of treatment, I have given myself the best possible treatment.

The business car drove smoothly on the road in Manhattan.

Joel took out a bottle of ice water from the bar and handed it to Gu Bei: "I originally thought you would hire a book agent."

"At least not now."

Gu Bei took the water and said calmly, "I want to concentrate on developing my directing career right now. A book agent will only interfere with my work."

Book agents are still quite useful for ordinary best-selling authors.

Things like contacting publicity resources, copyright transactions, and contract negotiations are areas that ordinary best-selling authors are not good at.

And these things happen to be what Gu Bei has the most after becoming a director.

Directors may not be able to make as much money as best-selling authors.
But when it comes to resource mobilization, ordinary directors can surpass top best-selling authors.

The most important thing is that after the Hunger Games series, Gu Bei has no plans to write any more books!
This also means that the most important skill of a book agent is not needed: helping writers analyze the market and plan new books.

"Are you not going to write a book in the future?" Joel asked worriedly.

"Maybe my career as a director has failed?"

Gu Bei didn't explain much.

He wanted the high royalties from best-selling books.

But what will be the best-selling book series in North America over the next decade?

Fifty Shades of Grey series!

That’s right, it’s the Fifty Shades of Grey series that started out as Twilight fan fiction and later became an independent book, focusing on love and sex.

Each book in this trilogy has sold over 1000 million copies in North America!

The adapted movie also did well at the box office.

But Gu Bei still had to have some shame.

Even if he goes bankrupt in the future, he won't write about this.

"Then I wish you success in your directing career. I also want to have some connections in Hollywood!" Joel said with a smile. Gu Bei felt very comfortable hearing this.

Even though it concerns Joel's interests, at least he still considers Gu Bei's perspective.

The car arrived at the bottom of the Random House Building.

This 52-story building is located not far from Central Park and looks like three books stacked on top of each other.

The first floor is a super-large bookstore, the second floor and above is the headquarters of Random House, and the twenty-seventh floor and above are apartments.

"First, I'll take you to look at your books. You've probably never been here before, have you?"

Gu Bei followed Joel into the bookstore

The bookstore is very big, at least several thousand square meters.

There is nothing special about the bookshelves in the middle, just rows of bookshelves.

The special thing is the surrounding walls, which are inlaid with books.

These are all first editions of books published by Random House!
Many people are looking for their favorite books and taking photos with the first editions of the books.

After Gu Bei followed Joel closer, he saw his book at a glance. The light blue cover was particularly eye-catching on the wall.

To his surprise,

There were several girls around seventeen or eighteen years old under the wall.
They are taking photos with "The Fault in Our Stars" one after another. This level of popularity is the highest Gu Bei has ever seen.

What is a bestselling author?

This is the bestselling author!
"Ever since your book was put in there, it's always been the most popular here," Joel added. "After all, this is New York, where you started!"

Gu Bei couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

Last November, an early snow in New York accidentally sold out "The Fault in Our Stars".
Otherwise, with the first print run of 10,000 copies, this book would not be eligible to participate in the North American Christmas Book Wars.

"Um...Excuse me, are you Bruce?"

A timid voice sounded behind Gu Bei and Qiao Er.

Gu Bei looked back and saw a girl wearing glasses looking at him excitedly.

He nodded.

The girl suppressed her excitement and didn't dare to speak loudly: "Can you give me an autograph?"

Who can refuse this?
Gu Bei looked at Joel, and Joel immediately took out a pen.

The girl quickly took out a brand new book on star fortune from the bookshelf next to her and handed it to Gu Bei.

Gu Bei was a little curious: "How did you recognize me?"

The girl continued softly, fearing to disturb others:

"I read about Sundance in the newspaper, and someone in the Facebook group had seen you and described your appearance, so I thought it must be the same person."

"Aren't you afraid that I'm not the author of this book, but just the same name?"

"But this is the headquarters of Random House!" The girl winked at Gu Bei, "Bruce, are you going to release a new book?"

"you guess?"

Gu Bei felt it was a pity that the girl didn't become a detective.

After signing, Gu Bei and Joel left the bookstore and went upstairs.

"how do you feel?"

Joel asked with a smile beside him.

Gu Bei said calmly, "I finally feel a little bit like a celebrity."

The sales of over 200 million copies in North America are no longer just a cold number, but have been made more concrete in that bookstore.

This is a feeling that even the dozen or so Facebook groups he personally controls cannot give him.

After a pause, Gu Bei said, "Tell me, how many autograph books do you want me to sign this time?"

(End of this chapter)