Document:

Exhibit 10.1

                  FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS, INCORPORATED

                              WAIVER AND AGREEMENT

                    Senior Secured Notes and Secondary Notes
                               Due March 31, 2006

                                                   Dated as of December 20, 2001

To the Holders of the Senior Secured
    Notes and Secondary Notes of
    Franklin Electronic Publishers,
    Incorporated Named in the
    Attached Schedule I

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      Reference is made to the Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 27,
1997 among Franklin Electronic Publishers, Incorporated (the "Company") and each
of the Purchasers named in Schedule A thereto (as amended by the First Amendment
dated as of April 15, 1999 and the Second Amendment and Consent (the "Second
Amendment") dated as of December 7, 1999, the "Note Agreement") pursuant to
which the Company issued $40,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 7.71%
Senior Notes due March 31, 2007 (the "Original Notes"). You are referred to
herein individually as a "Holder" and collectively as the "Holders." Capitalized
terms used and not otherwise defined in this Waiver and Agreement (the "Waiver")
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Note Agreement.

      Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the Original Notes were replaced with
$24,000,000 aggregate principal amount of adjustable rate Senior Secured Notes
due March 31, 2006 (the "Notes"). Also, as permitted by the Second Amendment,
the Company has issued $404,499.91aggregate principal amount of Secondary Notes
in payment of interest.

      The Company is not in compliance with the Interest Coverage and Fixed
Charge Ratio covenants contained in Sections 10.8 and 10.9 of the Note Agreement
and expects to continue to be in noncompliance with such covenants. The Company
has requested that the Holders waive such noncompliance and permit the Company
to make certain prepayments under the Note Agreement at par, without a
Make-Whole Amount. The Holders are willing to grant such a waiver and accept
such prepayment on the terms and conditions herein.

<PAGE>

      In consideration of the premises and for good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the Company and the
Holders agree as follows:

1.    WAIVER

      1.1. Waiver of Event of Default. The Holders waive the Default or Event of
Default under the Note Agreement resulting from the Company's failure to comply
during the fiscal quarters ending September 30, 2001, December 31, 2001 and
March 31, 2002 with the Interest Coverage covenant contained in Section 10.8 of
the Note Agreement and the Fixed Charge covenant contained in Section 10.9 of
the Note Agreement; provided, however, that such waiver shall terminate
automatically and without further notice or action by or on behalf of the
Holders if the payments required by Section 2 below are not made when due.

      1.2. Limitation on Waiver. This waiver is limited to its terms and shall
not constitute a waiver of any other term, condition, representation or covenant
under the Note Agreement or any of the other agreements, documents or
instruments executed and delivered in connection therewith.

2.    PAYMENTS

      2.1. Prepayment in Full in March, 2002. On or prior to March 31, 2002, the
Company will prepay, in cash, one hundred percent (100%) of the unpaid principal
amount of the Notes at par, plus accrued interest (without the payment of any
Make-Whole Amount or prepayment penalty) and any other obligations with respect
to the Note Agreement.

      2.2. Payment of Fees. Immediately upon receipt of a statement therefor,
the Company shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of special counsel to the
Holders.

3.    REAFFIRMATION; REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      3.1. Reaffirmation of Note Agreement. The Company reaffirms its agreement
to comply with each of the covenants, agreements and provisions of the Note
Agreement and the Notes except as expressly modified by this Waiver.

      3.2. Note Agreement. The Company represents and warrants that, subject to
the effectiveness of this Waiver, the representations and warranties contained
in the Note Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof, except for
such changes, facts, transactions and occurrences that have arisen since
December 7, 1999 in the ordinary course of business and such other matters as
have been previously disclosed in writing by the Company to the Holders.

      3.3. No Default or Event of Default. After giving effect to the
transactions contemplated hereby, there will exist no Default or Event of
Default.

      3.4. Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company
of this Waiver have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and other
action and do not and will not require any registration with, consent or
approval of, notice to or action by, any Person (including any Governmental
Authority) in order to be effective and enforceable. Each of the

                                       2
<PAGE>

Note Agreement and this Waiver constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its
respective terms, without defense, counterclaim or offset.

      3.5. Consent. The Company has obtained the written consent of the Banks
under the New Credit Agreement to the Company's execution and delivery of and
performance of its obligations under this Waiver, and no Default or Event of
Default will exist or occur with respect to such New Credit Agreement by reason
of this Waiver.

4.    EFFECTIVE DATE

      4.1. Consent of Requisite Holders. This Waiver shall become effective upon
the execution by the Holders of 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the
Notes outstanding.

      4.2. Partial Prepayment in 2001. On or prior to December 31, 2001, the
Company shall have prepaid, in cash, (a) eighty percent (80%) of the unpaid
principal amount of the Notes at par, plus accrued interest (without the payment
of any Make-Whole Amount or prepayment penalty), and (b) one hundred percent
(100%) of the unpaid principal amount of the Secondary Notes at par, plus
accrued interest (without the payment of any Make-Whole Amount or prepayment
penalty). Such prepayment shall be allocated in accordance with the provisions
of Section 8.3 of the Note Agreement.

5.    MISCELLANEOUS

      5.1. Ratification. Except to the extent modified hereby, the terms and
provisions of the Note Agreement, including the representations and warranties
contained therein, shall remain in full force and effect and are ratified,
confirmed, remade and approved in all respects as of the date hereof.

      5.2. Binding Effect. This Waiver shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto.

      5.3. Governing Law. This Waiver shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with New York law.

      5.4. Counterparts. This Waiver may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each executed counterpart constituting an original, but altogether
only one instrument.

      5.5. Effect of Breach. The Company agrees that a breach of its
representations, warranties or obligations hereunder shall be an Event of
Default under the Note Agreement.

                                       3
<PAGE>

      If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please sign the accompanying
counterpart of this Waiver and return it to the Company, whereupon the foregoing
shall become a binding agreement between you and the Company upon satisfaction
of the conditions set forth in Section 4 of this Waiver.

                                              FRANKLIN ELECTRONIC PUBLISHERS,
                                                 INCORPORATED

                                              By:    /s/ Gregory J. Winsky
                                                  ------------------------------
                                              Name:  Gregory J. Winsky
                                                   -----------------------------
                                              Title: Executive Vice President
                                                    ----------------------------

                                       4
<PAGE>

The foregoing is hereby agreed
to as of the date thereof.

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE
    INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ David A. Barras
   -------------------------------------
Name:  David A. Barras
     -----------------------------------
Title: Its Authorized Representative
      ----------------------------------

                                       5
<PAGE>

JEFFERSON PILOT FINANCIAL
  INSURANCE COMPANY, Successor by
  merger to ALEXANDER HAMILTON
  LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
  AMERICA

By:    /s/  Robert E. Whalen, II
   --------------------------------------
Name:  Robert E. Whalen, II
      -----------------------------------
Title: Vice President
      -----------------------------------

                                       6
<PAGE>

PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

By:    /s/ Cathy Schwartz
   -----------------------------------
Name:  Cathy Schwartz
     ---------------------------------
Title: Assistant Vice President
      --------------------------------

By:    /s/ Peter S. Fiek
   -----------------------------------
Name:  Peter S. Fiek
     ---------------------------------
Title: Assistant Secretary
     ---------------------------------

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Outstanding Principal Amount
                                                    ---------------------------------------------
Name of Holder                                      Senior Secured Notes          Secondary Notes
--------------                                      --------------------          ---------------
<S>                                                      <C>                        <C>
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company           $ 5,500,000                $222,474.95
Jefferson Pilot Financial Insurance Company                2,500,000                 101,124.98
Pacific Life Insurance Company                             2,000,000                  80,899.98
                                                         -----------                -----------
         Total                                           $10,000,000                $404,499.91
</TABLE>

                                       8Exhibit 4.1(a)

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

This Consulting Agreement (the "Consulting Agreement" or "Agreement") is made as
of this December 10, 2001 by and between Paul Kessler (hereinafter referred to
as "Consultant"), an individual, having his principle address at 6363 Sunset
Boulevard Fifth Floor, Hollywood, California 90028 and eSynch Corporation
(hereinafter referred to as the "Company") with offices at 29 Hubble, Irvine,
California 92618.

                                   WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, the Company requires and will continue to require consulting services
relating to management, strategic planning and marketing in connection with its
business; and

WHEREAS, Consultant can provide the Company with strategic planning, marketing
and legal consulting services and is desirous of performing such services for
the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Company wishes to induce Consultant to provide these consulting
services to the Company; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter stated, it
is agreed as follows:

     1.     APPOINTMENT.
            -----------

     The Company hereby engages Consultant and Consultant agrees to render
services to the Company as a consultant upon the terms and conditions
hereinafter set forth.

     2.     TERM.
            ----

     The term of this Consulting Agreement began as of the date of this
Agreement, and shall terminate 120 days hence, unless terminated or extended in
accordance with a valid provision contained herein, or unless extended by a
subsequent agreement between the parties.

     3.     SERVICES.
            --------

     During the term of this Agreement, Consultant shall provide advice to
undertake for and consult with the Company concerning management of sales and
marketing resources, consulting, strategic planning, corporate organization and
structure, financial matters in connection with the operation of the businesses
of the Company, expansion of services, mergers and acquisitions and other
business opportunities.  Consultant agrees to provide on a timely basis the
following enumerated services plus any additional services contemplated thereby:

          (a)  The  implementation  of  short-range  and  long-term  strategic
planning  to fully develop and enhance the Company's assets, resources, products
and  services;

          (b)  The  implementation  of a marketing program to enable the Company
to broaden the markets for its services and promote the image of the Company and
its  products  and  services;

          (c)  The  identification,  evaluation,  structuring,  negotiating  and
closing  of  joint  ventures,  strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and
advice  with  regard  to the ongoing managing and operating of such acquisitions
upon  consummation  thereof;  and

          (d)  Advice  and  recommendations  regarding  corporate  financing
including  the  structure, terms and content of bank loans, institutional loans,
private  debt  funding,  mezzanine  financing,  blind  pool  financing and other
preferred  and  common  stock  equity  private  or  public  financing.

                                        3
<PAGE>
     4.     DUTIES OF THE COMPANY.
            ---------------------

     The Company shall provide Consultant, on a regular and timely basis, with
all approved data and information about it, its subsidiaries, its management,
its products and services and its operations as shall be reasonably requested by
Consultant, and shall advise Consultant of any facts which would affect the
accuracy of any data and information previously supplied pursuant to this
paragraph.  The Company shall promptly supply Consultant with full and complete
copies of all financial reports, all fillings with all federal and state
securities agencies; with all data and information supplied by any financial
analyst, and with all brochures or other sales materials relating to its
products or services.

     5.     COMPENSATION.
            ------------

     Upon the execution of this Agreement, Company agrees to pay Consultant the
following as consideration for the services rendered under this Agreement:

          (a)  Warrant  Purchase.  Consultant  shall  have the right to purchase
               -----------------
3,000,000 shares of the Company's common shares at an exercise price of USD $.03
per  share.  Consultant's  rights  regarding these shares shall vest immediately
upon  execution  of  this  Agreement.

          (b)  Non-Warrant Shares. Within 3 days of the effectiveness of the S-8
               ------------------
Registration  Statement  (referenced  in  Section 5(c) below), the Company shall
execute  a  written  request  to  its  transfer  agent to prepare and deliver to
Consultant  and/or  a  mutually  agreed  to  escrow  agent,  one  common  stock
certificate  for  1,000,000  shares  of  freely  tradable,  non-legend,  eSynch
Corporation  equity.

          (c)  The  Compensation  outlined  in  Section  5(a-b)  above  shall be
conveyed  through  an effective S-8 registration of common shares. Within 3 days
of  the  effectiveness  of  the  S-8  Registration  Statement, the Company shall
execute  a  written  request  to  its  transfer  agent to prepare and deliver to
Consultant,  or  it's  agent,  two common stock certificate for 3,000,000 freely
tradable,  non-legend,  shares of the Company's common stock, and another common
stock  certificate  for  1,000,000  freely  tradable,  non-legend, shares of the
Company's  common  stock.

     5.5     COSTS AND EXPENSES
             ------------------

          (a)  Miscellaneous  Costs.
               --------------------

          Subject to the prior approval of the Company, Consultant in providing
the foregoing services, shall not be responsible for any out-of-pocket costs,
including, without limitation, travel, lodging, telephone, postage and Federal
Express charges. Consultant shall provide the Company with a detailed accounting
of monthly expenses related to the Agreement. Payment for these expenses shall
be made to Consultant within 15 days after submission to the Company.

     6.     REPRESENTATION AND INDEMNIFICATION.
            ----------------------------------

     The Company shall be deemed to have been made a continuing representation
of the accuracy of any and all facts, material information and data which it
supplies to Consultant and acknowledges its awareness that Consultant will rely
on such continuing representation in disseminating such information and
otherwise performing its advisory functions.  Consultant in the absence of
notice in writing from the Company, will rely on the continuing accuracy of
material, information and data supplied by the Company.  Consultant represents
that he has knowledge of and is experienced in providing the aforementioned
services.

     7.     MISCELLANEOUS.
            -------------

     Termination:  Subsequent to and no less than 30 days after the execution of
     -----------
this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated by either Party upon written
notice to the other Party for any reason and shall be effective five (5)

                                        4
<PAGE>
business days from the date of such notice.  Termination of this Agreement shall
cause Consultant to cease providing services under this Agreement; however,
termination for any reason whatever, shall not decrease or eliminate the
compensatory obligations of the Company as outlined in Section 5 of this
Agreement.

     Modification: This Consulting Agreement sets forth the entire understanding
     ------------
of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Consulting
Agreement may be amended only in writing signed by both Parties.

     Notices:  Any notice required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be
     -------
in writing and shall be mailed or otherwise delivered in person or by facsimile
transmission at the address of such Party set forth above or to such other
address or facsimile telephone number as the Party shall have furnished in
writing to the other Party.

     Waiver:  Any waiver by either Party of a breach of any provision of this
     ------
Consulting Agreement shall not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any
other breach of that provision or of any breach of any other provision of this
Consulting Agreement.  The failure of a Party to insist upon strict adherence to
any term of this Consulting Agreement on one or more occasions will not be
considered a waiver or
deprive that Party of the right thereafter to insist upon adherence to that term
of any other term of this Consulting Agreement.

     Assignment:  The Options under this Agreement are assignable at the
     ----------
discretion of the Consultant.

     Severability:  If any provision of this Consulting Agreement is invalid,
     ------------
illegal, or unenforceable, the balance of this Consulting Agreement shall remain
in effect, and if any provision is inapplicable to any person or circumstance,
it shall nevertheless remain applicable to all other persons and circumstances.

     Disagreements:  Any dispute or other disagreement arising from or out of
     -------------
this Consulting Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration under the rules of
the American Arbitration Association and the decision of the arbiter(s) shall be
enforceable in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Arbitration shall occur
only in San Diego, CA. The interpretation and the enforcement of this Agreement
shall be governed by California Law as applied to residents of the State of
California relating to contracts executed in and to be performed solely within
the State of California. In the event any dispute is arbitrated, the prevailing
Party (as determined by the arbiter(s)) shall be entitled to recover that
Party's reasonable attorney's fees incurred (as determined by the arbiter(s)).

                                 SIGNATURE PAGE

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Consulting Agreement has been executed by the
Parties as of the date first above written.

eSynch Corporation                             CONSULTANT

/s/  Tom Hemmingway                            /s/  Paul Kessler
--------------------------                     ----------------------------
Tom Hemmingway                                 Paul Kessler
CEO

                                        5
<PAGE>

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