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Adult Latino authors writing for children
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From: Bob <Rlangdon>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 11:34:05 -0800
Just a quick clarification on my comments earlier about Children's Book Press searching out established adult authors. I also wanted to address some of the concerns of Lulu Delacre.
I didn't mean to imply that we only publish established adult writers. On the contrary, we do accept unsolicited manuscripts and look to give unpublished authors and artists avenues to publishing for their community.
Publishing a children's book by a writer known for his/her adult work is as risky as publishing an unknown author. Most publishing companies will usually turn first to writers with a proven track record. But this should not deter new writers from submitting manuscripts to publishers.
Many of the larger mainstream publishers won't even consider publishing an author that has not already been published or isn't represented by an agent. In that way, CBP distinguishes itself -- we constantly seek out new writers, and we actively review every submission that comes in and give them equal weight. We know that there are many important voices out there that aren't being heard, that publishing the more famous literary representatives of any given community are not enough, that we must seek out new voices. As a nonprofit press, CBP has more freedom to take a chance on an author that other presses might consider too risky -- if we feel the message is important, we go for it. We have no profit motive hanging over our heads.
Since the early 1990s CBP has been listing the editor's name on each of the book's copyright page. Our editorial guidelines are posted on our website and handed out at events. It would benefit a new writer to do some research and target the houses or divisions that are publishing materials similar to their own. I would venture to guess that 95% of the unsolicited manuscripts we receive are sent blindly -- meaning without knowing our list or the plans of our press. Because of that, our editorial department is deluged with manuscripts that do not fit our current publishing agenda. But is it always exciting to find those few unsolicited manuscripts that fit our publishing agenda and speaks to the community.
In the meantime, we continue to send out calls for submissions and search out new voices and artists. A recent example includes Amada Irma Per?z, a third grade school teacher we had met at a CABE conference. She had a story to tell that met our criteria, and most importantly, reflected the experiences of the Latino community. We'll be publishing her second book in the Fall.
Children's Book Press feels the same way. That's why, from the Fall of 2002 through the Fall of 2003, over half of the new titles we're publishing are written by new authors. We encourage all new writers to review our editorial guidelines and submit their story or artwork.
My apologies for straying off the topic of this year's Pura Belpr? awards.
Bob Langdon Director of Sales and Marketing Children's Book Press
Received on Thu 28 Feb 2002 01:34:05 PM CST
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 11:34:05 -0800
Just a quick clarification on my comments earlier about Children's Book Press searching out established adult authors. I also wanted to address some of the concerns of Lulu Delacre.
I didn't mean to imply that we only publish established adult writers. On the contrary, we do accept unsolicited manuscripts and look to give unpublished authors and artists avenues to publishing for their community.
Publishing a children's book by a writer known for his/her adult work is as risky as publishing an unknown author. Most publishing companies will usually turn first to writers with a proven track record. But this should not deter new writers from submitting manuscripts to publishers.
Many of the larger mainstream publishers won't even consider publishing an author that has not already been published or isn't represented by an agent. In that way, CBP distinguishes itself -- we constantly seek out new writers, and we actively review every submission that comes in and give them equal weight. We know that there are many important voices out there that aren't being heard, that publishing the more famous literary representatives of any given community are not enough, that we must seek out new voices. As a nonprofit press, CBP has more freedom to take a chance on an author that other presses might consider too risky -- if we feel the message is important, we go for it. We have no profit motive hanging over our heads.
Since the early 1990s CBP has been listing the editor's name on each of the book's copyright page. Our editorial guidelines are posted on our website and handed out at events. It would benefit a new writer to do some research and target the houses or divisions that are publishing materials similar to their own. I would venture to guess that 95% of the unsolicited manuscripts we receive are sent blindly -- meaning without knowing our list or the plans of our press. Because of that, our editorial department is deluged with manuscripts that do not fit our current publishing agenda. But is it always exciting to find those few unsolicited manuscripts that fit our publishing agenda and speaks to the community.
In the meantime, we continue to send out calls for submissions and search out new voices and artists. A recent example includes Amada Irma Per?z, a third grade school teacher we had met at a CABE conference. She had a story to tell that met our criteria, and most importantly, reflected the experiences of the Latino community. We'll be publishing her second book in the Fall.
Children's Book Press feels the same way. That's why, from the Fall of 2002 through the Fall of 2003, over half of the new titles we're publishing are written by new authors. We encourage all new writers to review our editorial guidelines and submit their story or artwork.
My apologies for straying off the topic of this year's Pura Belpr? awards.
Bob Langdon Director of Sales and Marketing Children's Book Press
Received on Thu 28 Feb 2002 01:34:05 PM CST
