From: jean ann mendoza <jamendoz>
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 10:27:13 -0500 (CDT)

I agree with Jeffrey that quality is to be sought over quantity. HOWEVER, I would add that there's plenty of drivel put out by non-Native writers, plenty of dry, didactic, poorly reserached material getting published by mainstream publishers, written by mainstream folks who are established or who become even more "established" the more their names & books are mentioned in reviews, in catalogs, etc. I can see nothing wrong with publishers seeking and nurturing Native/First Nations writers. While I know little about publishing as an industry and as a form of human behavior, it seems to me that the playing field has not been level when it comes to access and opportunity for Native/First Nations writers. Perhaps there is a perception that the market is limited? That there aren;t any native writers, or none worthwhile (otherwise they;d be famous already)? There are writers -- my husband, for one -- who may have begun to get off the ground (published a few poems or short stories, for instance) but drpped the struggle because of a need to support their families, or a sense that no one wanted to read what they wrote. . . . I'm sure that happens to mainstream would? writers as well, but the point is that there may well be an untapped resource of Native writers who have already produced quality wrk for a small audience, or some years ago, or whatever -- and an enterprising publisher could find them, give them a venue, and end up with quality work.

                                                Jean M.

On Thu, 28 Oct 1999, Jeffrey Canton wrote:
Received on Thu 28 Oct 1999 10:27:13 AM CDT