"... in a pre-empt ..."

[BrianY]

Well ... a neighbor of mine just sold a rom com to Grand Central and Publishers Weekly described it as "... in a pre-empt ..." What does this mean?

 

[E G Logan]

It refers to the sales deal. I understand it's where one company makes a bid large enough to be successful ahead of, and forestalling, a possible auction that could have involved several competitors. But check with @AgentPete.

 

[Jonny]

Yes, what @E G Logan says.

Designed to take the other publishers out of the race. By accepting the bid an agent and author agree not to put it into a potential open auction.

Something that requires experience and skill on behalf of an agent who must assess if there is a possibility of the auction making more or less than the preemptive bid.