CCBC-Net Archives
[CCBC-Net] from Lee Bennett Hopkins
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Lbhcove at aol.com <Lbhcove>
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2006 10:17:11 EDT
RE: DAJ's post:
the paucity of *audio* versions of most poetry collections for children
Blame this one on publishers!
Reprinting poems for an anthology cost a FORTUNE these days. As an anthologist, permissions could drive one crazy. ANOTHER book could be written on this little known subject in children's literature.
A 32-page anthology might easily run $5,000.00 or more in permissions for ONE edition of the book. Costs range from about $50.00 to hundreds of dollars.
A fellow-anthologist was charged $l800.00 for one short poem by A. A. Milne; needless to say Milne isn't going to appear in many collections!!!
Some agents charge exorbitant fees for 'modern-day poets' work'. Many of the 'modern-day poets' will also find their work will not be reprinted. Ironically, often poets can make more money on reprints pver a lifetime than they can on an entire book!
Then you must deal with 'rights and terms.' Paperback editions, book club rights, inconsistent terms such as some publishers allow for use for 5 years; others 7 years; other ten. THEN, audio rights are out of the question.
One has to track down publishers, agents, estates...even mother-in-laws, to find out who owns rights...if they do. And often, even publishers don't know who truly controls rights.
It could take longer to clear permissions than it takes to do an entire collection. And the bookkeeping becomes worse than an IRS office!
There is NO consistency in the field at all.
There are some CD's available of poets reading their own work, e.g. Langston Hughes, Robert Frost...
but...audio producers, even major ones I have approached, won't touch the genre. It's maddening.
DAJ is right on...poetry is meant to be heard, sung, shouted from rooftops...but it ain't gonna' happen until the industry itself recognizes this fact.
I apologize for this long post. But this needs to be heard.
LBH
www.leebennetthopkinsbooks.com
Received on Sat 08 Apr 2006 09:17:11 AM CDT
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2006 10:17:11 EDT
RE: DAJ's post:
the paucity of *audio* versions of most poetry collections for children
Blame this one on publishers!
Reprinting poems for an anthology cost a FORTUNE these days. As an anthologist, permissions could drive one crazy. ANOTHER book could be written on this little known subject in children's literature.
A 32-page anthology might easily run $5,000.00 or more in permissions for ONE edition of the book. Costs range from about $50.00 to hundreds of dollars.
A fellow-anthologist was charged $l800.00 for one short poem by A. A. Milne; needless to say Milne isn't going to appear in many collections!!!
Some agents charge exorbitant fees for 'modern-day poets' work'. Many of the 'modern-day poets' will also find their work will not be reprinted. Ironically, often poets can make more money on reprints pver a lifetime than they can on an entire book!
Then you must deal with 'rights and terms.' Paperback editions, book club rights, inconsistent terms such as some publishers allow for use for 5 years; others 7 years; other ten. THEN, audio rights are out of the question.
One has to track down publishers, agents, estates...even mother-in-laws, to find out who owns rights...if they do. And often, even publishers don't know who truly controls rights.
It could take longer to clear permissions than it takes to do an entire collection. And the bookkeeping becomes worse than an IRS office!
There is NO consistency in the field at all.
There are some CD's available of poets reading their own work, e.g. Langston Hughes, Robert Frost...
but...audio producers, even major ones I have approached, won't touch the genre. It's maddening.
DAJ is right on...poetry is meant to be heard, sung, shouted from rooftops...but it ain't gonna' happen until the industry itself recognizes this fact.
I apologize for this long post. But this needs to be heard.
LBH
www.leebennetthopkinsbooks.com
Received on Sat 08 Apr 2006 09:17:11 AM CDT
