From: Shelby Wolf <shelby.wolf>
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2006 08:47:13 -0600

All, I couldn't agree more with Lee. In my own work, I find permissions sometimes take longer than writing an article. And the expense is incredible. I wanted to quote from a famous picture book in my last book and the publisher wanted an exorbitant amount for 18 words. And illustrations? Forget it! Currently, I've long finished a new piece, and I'm trying to use a poem from a famous poet to open it. Because the poet has passed on, I've written and called the estate several times and finally the lawyer who works for the estate sent me the okay, but then two more publishers got into the fray. I wrote my first request on November 18 and I'm still waiting to hear. Sigh. I can understand that being paid for your work is important-- indeed, it's essential to authors and illustrators' livelihoods as well as their family's--but the road to achieve permissions is long and expensive!

Shelby


On Apr 8, 2006, at 8:17 AM, Lbhcove at aol.com wrote:

> 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
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Dr. Shelby A. Wolf Professor Home: University of Colorado at Boulder 5579 Mesa Top Court School of Education Boulder, CO 80301 124 Education Building (303) 581-9846 Campus Box 249 (303) 246-0072 (Cell) Boulder, CO 80309-0249 shelby.wolf at Colorado.edu
(303) 492-8360
(303) 492-7090 (FAX) http://www.colorado.edu/education/faculty/shelbywolf/
Received on Sat 08 Apr 2006 09:47:13 AM CDT