In a lively hour, S&S publisher Justin Chanda offered up these insights: Ebook sales are leveling off and have not sucked the life out of publishing. Apps are not books! Picture books are chugging back to life with strong, identifiable characters and shorter text. Funny books are working well. About diversity: Authors are given a... Continue Reading →
Interesting Article
Thanks to Jim Whiting for sending this New York Times article! The article talks about how the kids of e-book-loving adults still prefer paper for their own books. It also brings up the subject/debate about if anything is lost by taking a picture book and converting it to an e-book.A great piece to check out!
Writing “Edgy” Fiction
Thanks to Liz Mills, for sending this link to Cynthia Leitich Smith's blog. Cynthia interviews Ricki Thompson, author of CITY OF CANNIBALS, who gives her thoughts and process on writing "edgy" fiction.As an artist, I have a responsibility to speak the truth. And the truth is, teenagers live in an “edgy” place. What could be... Continue Reading →
Race in the Industry
Publisher's Weekly recently had a post about race in the children's literature industry. The author, Elizabeth Bluemle, writes:It is our responsibility—as people who create, produce, and distribute the lion’s share of books that reach and teach and entertain children—it is our highest calling to provide written, illustrated worlds that embrace and prioritize all children, books... Continue Reading →
How healthy is the children’s book market? #scbwiwwa
Sara Crowe: Contemporary market is harder (dystopian, paranormal bigger right now). She views contemporary fiction as really important, though.Michael Bourret: Children's book market healthier--more sales. Healthier worldwide, too. Clearly people in the industry have lost jobs, though.Edward Necarsulmer: There is still room for really good contemporary work. It's finding axis between commercial appeal and literary... Continue Reading →
Another reason to seek an agent
Slush piles are starting to melt because publishers no longer want to pay to wade through them, according to the Wall Street Journal. (And yet, the same story claims Writers House gets 100 queries a month. Per day, maybe.)Anyway, it's an interesting read and covers both screenwriting and books. Here's the intro:In 1991, a book... Continue Reading →
Angels are the new vampires
Anne Rice talks to the Guardian U.K. about all the angels we're seeing in books these days. The most interesting bit, though, is her take on why Twilight is compelling:"I felt that it reflected the deep desire of young women to have the mystery and protection and wisdom of older men," said Rice, whose own... Continue Reading →
Do free sample chapters sell books?
The short answer? Yes.Some other interesting nuggets from the Frankfurt Book Fair:Women are spending nearly 70 percent more time browsing books online than men do. The most popular genre of books browsed online is romance novels, followed by books for tweens/teens and business books. The peak time for browsing romance titles is 11pm – 1am,... Continue Reading →
You’ll never guess the new trend in romances
Bonnet rippers! Yes, Amish romances are selling...like whoopie pie (which is an Amish invention for those of you insufficiently steeped in trivia).Here's a Wall Street Journal article on the topic.And yes, this is about the adult market, but fierce, unrequited yearning has been known to do well with teens, too. Hmmm.