From foreign language to US market? Needs advice.

I really need some advice here from people in the business on how to get my work from a foreign market into the US market.

First some back-story (sorry if it drags on ).

I’m a Danish horror author of some local note trying to reach the big markets. Denmark with only 5,5 million people is a tiny market, and since no one else understand Danish, it is cumbersome to reach new markets.

I currently have seven novels out, some of which have received excellent reviews all around and one was nominated to the Best Danish Horror of the Year last year.

I have won two awards so far and am considered among the top-three horror writers here.

Lately I have begun probing the US markets through submissions to online magazines and anthologies.

My basic plan is to try and get some name recognition out there and be able to refer to “proper” publications before I try my luck with a novel.

So I either write original short stories in English, or I translate a Danish short story – either way I hire a freelance editor to check my language and grammar (oh, that grammar) before I submit.

So my question is:

What is the best or proper way to go from a tiny foreign market into the big pond? How should that process be handled?

I realize it ought to be my publisher who did all this, but they don’t have the resources (or the experience) to have my work translated and reach the right people.

I’m considering the following options:

1) Translating a few chapters from a novel, have the editor go over it and then send it to publishers in the US – perhaps followed with some reviews or nominations.

2) Translating the whole thing (which will take many months) and do the same.

3) Sending a synopsis of the story with reviews and nominations to see if they are even interested.

4) Translating as above, but have my own publisher publish it in ebook version only. I just fear the lack of punch in the market of today with an unknown author and an unknown publisher.

I began as self-published, so I’m used to a hands-on approach and like being involved, but I don’t want to look like an amateur.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated – even if it is harsh.

WormHeart

Old Hack said:

I'm not familiar with the current Danish market, but I'm pretty sure literary agents exist there.

A good literary agent would sell foreign rights to her clients' books into several territories.

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Literary agents are almost unheard of here. Some of the really big names have agents, but most don't.

It's just not part of the established system like in the US. :-/

EDITED TO ADD: I believe part of the problem is the tiny Danish market. Since the vast majority of books wont sell more than a thousand copies, I don't think it can pay of to be an agent for anything smaller than the Big Fish.

WormHeart

Old Hack said:

You might consider approaching agents in the territory you'd like to sell into, to see what they could do for you.

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Yeah, that might be a good way in. Thank you

Old Hack said:

How do Danish publishers sell foreign editions?

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I'm not really sure, actually.

Danish publishing is dominated by the big four houses - the elephants in the room so to speak. Besides them, there are a range of smaller publishers, including my publisher, Tellerup, who are usually focusing on a particular range.

And then there's a lot of micro publishers.

Tellerup almost exclusively publish in the fantastic genres (which suit me fine) and is mostly known for it's YA series (which hurt a little, since I write for adults).

It is almost only the big four who gets titles out in the world and I would recon it is based strictly on sales.

To top it off there's internal blacklisting, if you switch publishers. You're not coming back once you went elsewhere.

And the big four are not really into my genre, since the market is small.
:-/

WormHeart