From: Pteet at aol.com <Pteet>
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 2004 00:19:46 EDT

I think Ann Martin is a wonderful writer. Loved BELLE TEAL and A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE, and THE DOLL PEOPLE is a delight, too.

I used to work in New York for a book packager, and I remember someone there mentioning that Ann Martin had to fight to have one of her characters, who is black, be the front-cover image on one of the Babysitters Club books. She prevailed, and the book was one of the bestselling titles, proving to the industry that white kids would buy popular series books with nonwhite people on the cover. The colleague who told this story said that Ann M. had broken the color barrier for series books -- quite an accomplishment! I think she is responsible for some other firsts, too, in that series. Wish I could cite my sources, but the stories stuck with me.

I do know for a fact that way back when, at least fifteen years ago, Ann M. founded a nonprofit organization that helped distribute thousands of brand-new books to family shelters, hospitals, etc. A really nice way to use the proceeds from the BSC merchandising! I hope that effort is still going strong.

Anyhow, I just caught the last two posts in this thread and wanted to add those thoughts.

Elizabeth B.


************ Elizabeth Bluemle Flying Pig Children's Books 86 Ferry Rd. P.O. Box 147 Charlotte, VT 05445 www.flyingpigbooks.com
Received on Sat 17 Jul 2004 11:19:46 PM CDT