reborn in america

"Hello, Mr. Shike, long time no see." Adam sat in his studio, looked at the slightly haggard William Shike in front of him, and greeted with a smile.

William Smith forced a smile from the corner of his mouth, but he couldn't hide the exhaustion on his face at all. Although Adam's novel "Wizard" increased the sales volume of the California Times from only one hundred thousand in one month, it increased by ten or twenty. It can be said that he was proud of his spring breeze, he was commended by the board of directors, and various honors and money followed one after another, which made him fly to the pinnacle of his life all at once.

However, the borrowed east wind must be repaid after all.Since the official serialization of "The Witcher" ended, the California Times was able to overwhelm the "Wall Street Journal", the hegemony of American newspapers at its peak, and fell rapidly. Even with nearly 40 subscribers, it went directly from the highest point of 200 in two months. Sales of more than 10,000 fell to less than [-]+, which can be described as an avalanche.

In fact, this result is definitely very good for the "California Times", which originally had a sales volume of only [-]. However, due to the rapid expansion before, the newspaper rushed to the entire western United States in just over a month, and most of the states But it was too late to get familiar with it. As soon as the serialization of "The Witcher" ended, the entire network instantly collapsed, causing heavy losses.

However, nearly 30 of the 15 subscribers are distributed in various states. If you want to return to the original field, you can only abandon these users. The reputation has been greatly damaged, and how can a newspaper without a reputation survive.

But if you insist on maintaining such a broad field, the cost can be described as staggering, and it is completely beyond the reach of the "California Times", a small newspaper that has suddenly become rich. It will be enough to drag it to collapse in less than a year.

In fact, this is strange again. Not everyone is Adam Baker, nor are all novels "The Witcher". Under the praise of his peers, William Smith looked up to himself, thinking that he could just find a big-name writer to sit in It will be able to make up for the huge gap at the end of the serialization of "The Witcher".

Apparently, the facts gave him a huge slap, and the Avalanche ending only declared one thing—this saga belongs to The Witcher, not the California Times.

Although William Skeleton brought a legend to the "California Times", it also brought it into a huge pothole, facing the tragic situation of disintegration at any time. If a long-established newspaper went bankrupt because of him, his future would also be ruined. No newspaper dared to hire him as the editor-in-chief of its own newspaper.

With nothing left and right, William Smith called Lydia, but Lydia had received Adam's message early and ignored him at all. Of course, the reason was ready-"The Witcher" began to enter the sales stage, and the entire Adam Baker's team is extremely busy and can't find time to meet with him.

So seeing the sales of "California Times" continue to avalanche, from June 10,000+ at the end of September to less than 50 at the end of October, of which more than 90.00 were contributed by California locals. Tens of thousands, and more than [-]% of them were readers who subscribed to the newspaper for a quarter or half a year, or even a single reading, during the serialization of "The Witcher".

With quarterly subscriptions about to expire, it can be seen that if nothing is done, the California Times will continue to collapse in November, and perhaps 1992 will be the last full year of the California Times in existence.

And William Smith was no longer as vigorous as he was a few months ago, he seemed to be ten years older, his hair had turned half gray in just a few months, and his whole body looked sluggish.

Just when he was almost desperate and even thought of committing suicide, the chief culprit who brought him all the glory and deprived him of it——Adam Baker, finally took the time to meet him.

So, after some elaborate grooming, William Smith finally sat opposite Adam after waiting for a month. Looking at this vigorous and unrestrained young man in front of him, William Smith didn't even feel envious or jealous.

He said with a wry smile: "Mr. Baker, it is my honor to see you again."

"It's an exaggeration, but it's nice to meet you. What's the matter? Thanks to your newspaper, "The Witcher" is selling well." Adam said gratefully with a smile on his face.

"Ha, I heard that "The Witcher" has already broken tens of millions. It's really a surprise. Our "California Times" is extremely honored to be able to serialize this legendary novel. Congratulations to Mr. Baker for his second million copies." A novel with tens of thousands of sales." William Skeleton smiled and complimented deliberately.

Adam looked at William Skell, who was slightly bowed in front of him, with a flattering and flattering face, and thought of the proud and arrogant person before, as if it had been a lifetime ago.He put away his deliberate smile, and said to the person in front of him: "Maybe Lydia told you that I'm busy writing a new book recently, so I won't go around in circles. I don't know what's up with Editor Square today. Is it?"

When William Smith heard Adam talking about the topic, he took a deep breath and said courageously: "Our newspaper office hopes that Mr. Baker can continue to serialize in our newspaper, and we will provide the greatest sincerity for this."

Listening to his words, Adam couldn't help but sneered in his heart, the greatest sincerity?Say it like I need it.He looked into William Smith's eyes until he timidly withdrew his gaze, and then said leisurely: "Mr. Smith, you also know that I have just published a novel, and I have no plan to publish a novel this year, so I am very sorry. .”

"Aren't you writing a new book? No matter what it is, we are willing to provide the highest conditions in the industry, as long as you are willing to serialize it in our newspaper." William Smith said anxiously and nervously with his eyes widened and his hands on the table.

"Hey, hey, Mr. Shike, please calm down. I know the plight of your newspaper, but I'm sorry, I really can't help. I don't plan to serialize this novel." Adam tapped his fingers on the table, his body slightly Leaning back, he looked at the red-faced and anxious William Smith in a idly manner and said.

Reminded by Adam, William Skell took a few breaths and sat back in his chair, but his eyes were still looking at Adam. Obviously, he calmed down slowly in his desperate situation: "I think Mr. Baker will see you today." I didn't say this to me, Mr. Baker must know about the situation of our newspaper, we need a heavyweight work to boost the sales of the newspaper, so if Mr. Baker has any requirements, just say it."

Adam sat up straight, looked at William Skell who had regained his senses and smiled: "Okay, now that you know, I won't hide it. Yes, I can save your newspaper office, but what benefits can you offer?" ? Don’t tell me about the highest author’s remuneration in the industry? You have to know that even a higher book is only tens of millions, which is not enough for my royalties from novel sales for a week.”

"Yes, our "California Times" really can't come up with any conditions to attract Mr. Baker, but since you said it, Mr. Baker, then the "California Times" must have what Mr. Baker wants, so you might as well just say it." William Shi Ke pursed his lips. He knew that he had no right to bargain at all. He was in a desperate situation. As long as someone could offer him an olive branch, even if he knew that the other party had bad intentions, he would definitely hold on tightly.

"You're very smart. To be honest, I'm a little confused. How could you make such an obvious mistake if you're as smart as you are?" Adam glanced at William Smith admiringly, but William Smith showed a smile because of Adam's words. Regretful expression, at the beginning he was dazzled by the sudden achievement on the one hand, and on the other hand, it was because the board of directors fell into madness in the face of interests, the two parties together finally led to the current tragic ending. Can't he see this result?It's just that he completely ignored the possible bad results of this choice, and only thought that things could go in the best direction, but how could it be possible?Things often only go in the worst direction, and never always go in the direction of the ideal state, so the result is inevitable.

"Let me just say it, I want to absolutely control the "California Times", go to discuss with your board of directors, don't bargain with me, I just want an answer, agree, or disagree? You know, I have many choices. It's not the best one, so I'll just give you a week to think about it. By this time next week, I hope to give me an affirmative answer. Otherwise, I will treat everything we said today as if it never happened. The same." Adam simply stated his purpose without coddling.

I have to say that this answer is shocking. As a writer, you want to get involved in a newspaper?We must know that the newspaper office does not actually make money, and its greatest significance is the right to speak. What does a writer, even the best-selling novelist in the world, want a newspaper office for?

Apparently, even the most daring William Smith hadn't thought of such an answer, and he wasn't really to blame, even if Adam's team of novel agents, Tonares, and his secretary, Lydia, didn't work. What on earth was Adam thinking? , but obviously Adam did not satisfy their curiosity, and Tonares, who has worked with him for so long, naturally knew Adam's character, so he didn't question it. Anyway, it is no problem to support the operation of a newspaper with the money Adam earns now. What's more, if Adam continues to authorize the newspaper to serialize novels, it may not be possible for him to make money.

The author has something to say: I am busy looking for a job recently, so I am very sorry that I cannot reply to everyone.

I just saw off a colleague yesterday and got drunk. Spring is really the season for changing jobs.