Literary Agency

Literary rights agency

We represent African authors and promote their works in national and international markets.

Our approach

We conceive the agency as a space of alliance between literary rigor, contractual protection and the development of works. Each text calls for its own trajectory: publication, translation, adaptation, international circulation, consolidation of an author's path or opening toward new counterparts.

Expertise

Our expertise

Representation designed to protect your rights, strengthen your position and expand the circulation of your works.

Editorial positioning

We support works rooted in the realities, imaginaries and languages of Africa and its diaspora, with particular attention to their literary singularity and their capacity to resonate.

Rights negotiation

We negotiate clear, fair terms adapted to your goals, whether for publishing, translation, co-publishing, distribution or adaptation.

Contract management

We review, structure and monitor contracts related to the exploitation of your works in order to secure your interests over the long term.

International development

We identify distribution, rights-sale and partnership opportunities across different markets, drawing on our knowledge of editorial and cultural networks.

Services

Our services

Tailor-made support for each author.

CommissionAuthor RepresentationSubmitting manuscripts to French- or English-language publishers.

Objective: Assist selected authors in developing their projects, preparing their submission materials, identifying publishers, negotiating contracts, and managing their careers.
Who it is for: African or Afro-diasporic authors with a completed or nearly completed manuscript (90%+), including literary fiction, novels, narrative essays, or high-quality nonfiction. The author must have a distinctive voice and be willing to engage in the publishing process (availability for revisions and promotion).
Target market: French-language publishing market: French-speaking Africa, France, Quebec, Belgium, Switzerland. English-language markets depending on the project.
Format and modalities: Representation contract lasting 12 to 24 months, renewable. Deliverables: author's portfolio; publisher pitch; synopsis; positioning statement; list of target publishers; tracking of submissions; negotiation; regular reporting.

Indicative cost: 15% commission.
Average timeframe: 12 to 24 months before first income.

Fixed feeRights & circulation assessmentManagement and negotiation of all rights: publishing, translation, adaptation.

Objective: To help authors, publishers, or cultural organizations understand the potential for a text or catalog to reach a wider audience: publication, translation, rights licensing, co-publishing, institutional sales, adaptation, and distribution in Africa or the rest of the world.
Who it is for: Authors with one or more titles published by a French-language publisher (in France, Africa, Belgium, or Quebec), ideally within the last 10 years; who signed with a publishing house without negotiating translation, audiovisual, or digital rights, or without fully understanding the scope of those rights. An African publishing house with 5 to 50 titles in its catalog, without a dedicated rights department, seeking to promote its backlist or prepare for an international book fair
Target market: Africa, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, the African diaspora.
Format and modalities: A one-time, time-limited service. The process takes 2 to 4 weeks from document collection to report delivery. Delivery of a written report structured in two parts: 1/ a factual assessment, territory by territory and right by right; 2/ actionable recommendations—rights to renegotiate, identified divestiture opportunities, contractual risks to address, and suggested next steps. A 60-minute virtual presentation session is included.

Indicative cost: Author rate: €350 to €500 for an author with 1 to 3 contracts to review. Institutional rate (publishing house, 5 titles or more): €1,200 to €2,500 depending on the size of the list. To be discussed case by case.
Average timeframe: 2 to 6 weeks depending on the complexity of the file.

CommissionConsulting on derivative rights and audiovisual adaptationsNegotiation for film, TV, theater and other media adaptations.

Objective: Tap into the multifaceted potential of their work beyond the written book; generate significant revenue from audiovisual adaptations (royalties from adaptation rights can far exceed traditional publishing advances); and receive guidance in a legally and commercially complex field.
Who it is for: Authors already represented by Susu (not available outside of representation) whose work shows clear potential for adaptation: strong visual storytelling, complex characters, settings or situations that could be adapted into a series or feature film, and themes with international resonance (diaspora, colonial history, Afrofuturism, thriller).
Target market: Audiovisual producers and streaming platforms investing in African content (Netflix Africa, Amazon Prime, Canal+ Afrique, Showmax, ARTE). French and African independent production companies working on projects with an African focus.
Format and modalities: Deliverables: adaptation assessment; “screen potential” sheet; pitch deck; logline; audiovisual synopsis; list of target producers; outreach strategy; support for meetings.

Indicative cost: Fixed fee or commission. Adaptation assessment: €600 to €1,200. Full pitch deck: €2,000 to €5,000. Prospecting mandate: €500 to €1,500/month. Commission on an audiovisual option or sale: 10 to 15%.
Average timeframe: Medium to long term: 6 to 18 months. Audiovisual options can take a long time to negotiate.

Fixed feeCareer Counseling for AuthorsCareer coaching to help authors clarify their goals, prioritize their steps, and build a coherent career path.

Objective: For the author, the goal is to obtain a clear, context-specific assessment: where their project stands, what the next realistic step is, which markets are relevant, and what still needs to be done to make it presentable to a publisher. This isn't a motivational session; it's a professional analysis of the situation, with an actionable roadmap provided at the end.
Who it is for: Authors with a manuscript in progress or completed, or a clearly defined project (novel, essay, nonfiction work), aiming for commercial publication within 12 to 24 months First or second book at the pre-agency or pre-submission stage. Authors who have previously received editorial feedback that did not lead to further action, or who are unsure about which publishers to target, the right time to submit, or the appropriate submission format Authors from the diaspora who have written in French and are seeking to understand the workings of the European publishing market Authors who have already self-published or published through small presses and wish to reach a wider audience
Target market: Publishing, prizes, residencies, and partnerships.
Format and modalities: Two-part individual consultation: Preliminary analysis (before the session) The author submits in advance: the first 20 to 30 pages of the manuscript or a detailed statement of intent, a short biography, and a list of their priority questions. Susu conducts a preliminary review (2 to 3 hours of work) and prepares a structured analytical framework. Consulting session (90 minutes, video conference) Post-session deliverable: a written summary (2 to 3 pages), sent within 5 business days, summarizing the assessment, prioritized recommendations, and the next 3 concrete actions.

Indicative cost: Full consultation (prior reading + 90-min session + summary note): €350 to €450. Launch rate (first 6 months): €250 to €300. 3-month follow-up option: €90 to €120.
Average timeframe: 5 to 10 working days.

Fixed feeTranslation rights salesAdapt a French-language title for release in English-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and other markets

Objective: Tap into the commercial potential of your work in English-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, Spanish-speaking, or other markets; earn additional income from translations; and establish a credible international presence.
Who it is for: Authors already represented by Susu (see the Author Representation service) whose manuscripts have been or are currently being placed in the French-language market. The international rights sales service is not available to authors who are not represented: it is an extension of the representation service
Target market: Priority markets: the United Kingdom, the United States, English-speaking Canada, and English-speaking Africa. Secondary markets: Germany, Italy, Spain, etc.
Format and modalities: Direct approach (markets Susu is familiar with): direct contact with targeted English-language publishers, submission in English (synopsis and excerpts translated or written by Susu). Sub-agency approach (specialized markets): collaboration with a local co-agent in the target country, shared commission, 10% each (20% total deducted from the author's royalties). Preparation of the rights package, pitch in English, coordination with the sub-agent, and negotiation.

Indicative cost: Foreign rights commission through a sub-agent: 20 to 25% (shared between Susu and the sub-agent, i.e. 10 to 12.5% each), in line with market practice. Foreign rights commission on a direct approach (without a sub-agent): 15 to 18%.
Average timeframe: 18 to 30 months before first income.

Fixed feeLegal, Contract, and Intellectual Property Advisory ServicesLegal-strategic support to review and negotiate contracts before signature.

Objective: Helping authors, publishers, and cultural organizations understand, negotiate, and secure their rights: publishing contracts, translation, adaptation, digital rights, audio rights, territorial rights, term of protection, compensation, reversion, and derivative rights. Ensuring that sensitive clauses are properly addressed before signing.
Who it is for: Authors who are already in discussion with a publisher, producer, or partner. Publishers, platforms, cultural producers
Target market: Publishing, translation, adaptation, and audiovisual options.
Format and modalities: One-time assignment or ongoing support. Deliverables: annotated review of the contract; checklist of key considerations; negotiation recommendations; schedule of assigned rights; risk summary; referral to a lawyer if necessary.

Indicative cost: Simple review: €250 to €500. Full analysis: €700 to €1,500. Negotiation support: €1,500 to €3,000. Commission if SUSU leads the negotiation: 12%.
Average timeframe: 1 to 3 weeks for a strategic review; 4 to 8 weeks with negotiation support.

Fixed feeScouting African authors and manuscriptsTalent detection

Objective: Identify emerging authors, works, trends, genres, or voices on behalf of publishers, platforms, institutions, festivals, or producers.
Who it is for: Publishers, foreign agents, platforms, institutions, festivals.
Target market: France, Francophone/Anglophone Africa, Canada, and international channels.
Format and modalities: One-time scouting: report on a specific topic, region, or genre. Ongoing scouting: monthly or quarterly monitoring. Deliverables: scouting report; author profiles; work profiles; project maturity level; contact information or methods for establishing contact; editorial recommendation.

Indicative cost: One-off scouting: €800 to €1,500. Quarterly subscription: €1,500 to €3,000. Annual subscription: €6,000 to €12,000 depending on volume. Possible commission if SUSU later takes part in a negotiation: 10 to 15%.
Average timeframe: 5 to 10 working days.

Method

How it works

A simple and transparent process from start to finish.

Submission
Send us your manuscript and author portfolio.
Evaluation
Our committee evaluates the commercial potential of your work.
Representation
If accepted, we represent and promote your work.
Negotiation
We negotiate contracts and manage your rights long-term.

Why SUSU

Why choose SUSU

Grounded knowledge of African markets

We work from the concrete realities of African and diasporic book chains, their constraints, dynamics and spaces of legitimation.

A literary and strategic approach

We defend works for their artistic, symbolic and economic value, without opposing aesthetic ambition to professional development.

Support rooted in an ecosystem

The agency is part of the broader SUSU publishing universe, at the crossroads of editorial services, the platform, author resources and publishing dynamics.

A clear working relationship

We favor transparent exchanges, readable frameworks and a rigorous selection of genuinely relevant opportunities.

Ready to valorize your work?

Submit my manuscript The editorial studio

Literary rights agency

Our approach

Editorial positioning

Rights negotiation

Contract management

International development

Submission

Evaluation

Representation

Negotiation

Grounded knowledge of African markets

A literary and strategic approach

Support rooted in an ecosystem

A clear working relationship

Ready to valorize your work?

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