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ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS
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From: Timothy Travaglini <ttravaglini>
Date: 30 Nov 2001 12:48:32 -0500
As the editor responsible for the reissue of ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS, I would like to take this last-minute opportunity to sincerely thank you all for your earnest and encouraging discussion of Sylvia Engdahl's wonderful novel.
To paraphrase author Paul Many paraphrasing literary theorist John Ellis, it is the teachers, and librarians, reviewers and educators--the "community" that finds applications, uses, for books beyond the individual act of simply reading a title--that are responsible for defining any single book as "literature." And it is my deepest and most sincere hope that we have given ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS the leg up to carry on indefinitely as the compelling and entertaining novel that it is.
The only specific point from the past month that I would like to address openly is Monica Edinger's question, "are you [in the publishing world] at all interested in encouraging teachers to use [new (or reissued) works of fantasy] in their courses?"
I wish to personally state, as strongly as possible, that I encourage teachers(and everyone else out there) to use *any* book, at *any* time, in *any* way that they see fit. Never, ever, be discouraged by someone else maintaining that a certain book is not appropriate for a certain audience. Read a book, know your audience, work out in your mind how and why you can use that book; and if you feel that you can indeed use it, then don't allow any taboo, rule of thumb, or perceived stigma to stand in your way. If that means introducing a simple-concept picture book to your college students, or ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS to your precocious and voracious young readers, all power to you.
We need you out there. Each and every book that is published needs you. A solitary individual purchasing a copy of a book is only a beginning. Word of mouth, discussions such as facilitated by the CCBC, introducing a book into a classroom, getting a book into your local library system, bringing it to the attention of your community(whatever shape it may take), putting a book into the hands of young readers--these are all vital to the long life of a book.
Firebird's paperback publication of ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS will have a great impact on furthering this novel's success. But as both the hardcover and paperback editions transform into backlist titles, it is the grassroots work that you all do in the next year or two that will ensure that the teachers and librarians who come after you will also have this book to work with, and that the readers, of all ages, who come after us will have this book to cherish and enjoy.
I apologize if I have digressed from this month's topic, or if I bent any rules about "advertising or sales of products." Thank you all again, on behalf of the author, and Walker & Company, for your kind and insightful words.
Timothy Travaglini Editor Walker & Company Books for Young Readers ttravaglini at walkerbooks.com
- - - - - - - - Walker & Company 435 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014
Received on Fri 30 Nov 2001 11:48:32 AM CST
Date: 30 Nov 2001 12:48:32 -0500
As the editor responsible for the reissue of ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS, I would like to take this last-minute opportunity to sincerely thank you all for your earnest and encouraging discussion of Sylvia Engdahl's wonderful novel.
To paraphrase author Paul Many paraphrasing literary theorist John Ellis, it is the teachers, and librarians, reviewers and educators--the "community" that finds applications, uses, for books beyond the individual act of simply reading a title--that are responsible for defining any single book as "literature." And it is my deepest and most sincere hope that we have given ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS the leg up to carry on indefinitely as the compelling and entertaining novel that it is.
The only specific point from the past month that I would like to address openly is Monica Edinger's question, "are you [in the publishing world] at all interested in encouraging teachers to use [new (or reissued) works of fantasy] in their courses?"
I wish to personally state, as strongly as possible, that I encourage teachers(and everyone else out there) to use *any* book, at *any* time, in *any* way that they see fit. Never, ever, be discouraged by someone else maintaining that a certain book is not appropriate for a certain audience. Read a book, know your audience, work out in your mind how and why you can use that book; and if you feel that you can indeed use it, then don't allow any taboo, rule of thumb, or perceived stigma to stand in your way. If that means introducing a simple-concept picture book to your college students, or ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS to your precocious and voracious young readers, all power to you.
We need you out there. Each and every book that is published needs you. A solitary individual purchasing a copy of a book is only a beginning. Word of mouth, discussions such as facilitated by the CCBC, introducing a book into a classroom, getting a book into your local library system, bringing it to the attention of your community(whatever shape it may take), putting a book into the hands of young readers--these are all vital to the long life of a book.
Firebird's paperback publication of ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS will have a great impact on furthering this novel's success. But as both the hardcover and paperback editions transform into backlist titles, it is the grassroots work that you all do in the next year or two that will ensure that the teachers and librarians who come after you will also have this book to work with, and that the readers, of all ages, who come after us will have this book to cherish and enjoy.
I apologize if I have digressed from this month's topic, or if I bent any rules about "advertising or sales of products." Thank you all again, on behalf of the author, and Walker & Company, for your kind and insightful words.
Timothy Travaglini Editor Walker & Company Books for Young Readers ttravaglini at walkerbooks.com
- - - - - - - - Walker & Company 435 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014
Received on Fri 30 Nov 2001 11:48:32 AM CST
