Tim Gillner: Don't send him book dummies. Send a sample if you're an illustrator.Edward Necarsulmer: Have your password-protected portfolio online behind. You and your agent can send via e-mail.Elizabeth Law: Asks about postcard samples she gets in the mail. Now, she's relying on websites. Should artists still be sending postcards?Lisa Graff answers: Loved postcards. Liked... Continue Reading →
Editor/Agent/Art Director panel: what about graphic novels? #scbwiwwa
Edward Necarsulmer: There's going to be a WRINKLE IN TIME graphic novel.Paul Rodeen: jury out on how well they'll do. We're still trying to figure out how to do hardcover and paperback GNs.Elizabeth Law: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Big Nate...heavily illustrated paper-over-board MG fiction that brings the accessibility of graphic novels are the trending... Continue Reading →
Lynne Polvino of Clarion #scbwiwwa
She's an editor who acquires everything from young picture books to older PBs (such as the Jimi Hendrix book Edward Necarsulmer mentioned and another one about John Coltrane), chapter books, and some nonfiction titles. She also does middle grade and YA.She likes Clarion because it's a small, very selective imprint. She believes you can find... Continue Reading →
Jordan Brown wants this… #scbwiwwa
Jordan Brown, talking about Walden Pond Press... they're looking for books that would make good movies: timeless, appeal to both boys and girls, challenging, literary, and commercially appealing.So, books like Holes, The City of Ember, and Charlotte's Web.Also, he hates American Idol and is about to engage in fisticuffs with Elizabeth Law.
Editor, Agent, Art Director panel #scbwiwwa
Our panel includes Michael Bourret, Jordan Brown, Sara Crowe, Tim Gillner, Lisa Graff, Elizabeth Law, Edward Necarsulmer IV (who apparently no longer plays tennis), Lynne Polvino, and Paul Rodeen.We're about to begin!
Q&A with HarperCollins editors
This is sort of a neat feature on Harper's inkpop site. Ask an editor a question and you just might get an answer. This page links to answers by Catherine Onder and Jordan Brown, who's one of our conference faculty.
Cheryl Klein answers questions
Cheryl, a senior editor at Arthur A. Levine Books, is all kinds of awesome.She answers nine publishing-related questions on her blog; my favorite was No. 7, which has a great link to a Time magazine story on "stickiness"--why some things stay in the pop-culture craw and others evaporate: 7. Melissa: What, in your opinion, are... Continue Reading →
This really makes me want to visit Beach Lane Books
Here's a photo of their offices, snagged from Jaime's CocoaStomp blog, in which she has a lovely interview with Allyn Johnston. One really great way to know if you should pitch an editor is to get to know that editor a bit in person. Check it out, and see if Beach Lane Books (which published... Continue Reading →
What happens when an editor falls in love
Nancy Mercado, an editor at Macmillan, explains:It’s been said before, but as an editor, sometimes you are reading a manuscript looking for a reason to say no. By far the best part of the job, however, is when a manuscript comes along and beckons you. It says, read a little bit more, come along with... Continue Reading →
How to get blackballed in publishing
This amusing bit was on Editorial Anonymous, detailing how you can ensure you'll never have a career in children's publishing by doing any of the following:Sending me lingerie, pornographic manuscripts, or death threats. You're nuts. I've given your name to security.Calling or emailing me repeatedly in the belief that you're just too charming to have... Continue Reading →