New Grant Available for Textbook Authors Seeking Contract Advice

Online, July 24, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA) has announced a new grant program to cover the cost of hiring an intellectual property attorney to provide assistance in negotiating a textbook contract. Members can apply for grants of up to $1,000 and non-members can apply for grants of up to $250.

The grants are limited to first-time textbook authors who have been offered a publishing contract. TAA recommends hiring an intellectual property attorney specializing in the negotiation of textbook contracts. TAA provides an attorney referral list for members.

"Textbook authors often enter into the contract process ill prepared, especially for the first few contracts," said Robert Christopherson, author of the leading physical geography textbook, Geosystems. "TAA's textbook publication grant offers first-time authors the opportunity to negotiate the most favorable agreement."

Once a contract is signed, except in very few instances, it cannot be altered for the life of the book. That is why it is critical for first-time authors especially to learn how to negotiate a favorable contract so as to protect their intellectual property and their investment of time and resources in developing the book.

To apply for a Textbook Publication Grant, authors will need to complete an application and secure a letter from their publisher indicating that their textbook has been offered a contract. A letter template is available on the TAA website. To learn more about this grant or to apply, visit
http://www.taaonline.net/publication_grants/textbook.html

TAA also offers an Academic Publication Grant to cover expenses incurred in publishing print academic journal articles and books, including academic journal page costs or university press subventions, the cost of preparing artwork, and journal reprint costs. To learn more about this grant or to apply, visit
http://www.taaonline.net/publication_grants/academic.html