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[CCBC-Net] celebrity book apology
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From: Sally Miller <derbymiller>
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:47:14 -0400
I feel properly chastised. I have been known, I'm afraid, to complain loudly about what I felt was a surfeit of celebrity books on the shelves of local bookstores, although I have never included Jamie Lee Curtis, Julie Andrews, John Lithgow and several others In my negative remarks. Since numbers exceeding 100 lose all meaning or significance to me, whenever I read of this or that large advance I had trouble believing that such a book could possibly "make money" for its publishers. Rather, I supposed books like these were using up the x numbers of dollars allotted to the acquisition of children's book manuscripts.
Digging a little deeper into the impetus for my displeasure, I find that it wasn't really the money that rankled. What bothered me more and probably still bothers me,(and other writers, I suspect), is that editorial departments, so overworked and understaffed they don't have time even to send rejection slips, still necessarily find the necessary resources to read, edit, publish and promote manuscripts that would languish in the slush pile or be returned unopened were it not for that magical name and address connected with it.
So maybe my discontent is not so much occasioned by the celebrities who submit books as by the publishers who can't afford to staff children's book departments with adequate personnel.
I work hard at my craft, and I have been incredibly lucky. I know I have no right to complain. However, viewing the changes in the submission process that have taken place between 1990, when I first submitted a children's book manuscript, and today, I feel so much sadness. But maybe I'm just getting old -- could be.
Regardless, when I go into a bookstore and see the beautiful and intriguing books there for children to choose from, I thank my lucky stars that I can usually find one or two of my books still there among such distinguished company.
Cheers, everyone -- happy reading and happy writing to you all. Sally Derby
Received on Sun 10 Jun 2007 01:47:14 PM CDT
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 14:47:14 -0400
I feel properly chastised. I have been known, I'm afraid, to complain loudly about what I felt was a surfeit of celebrity books on the shelves of local bookstores, although I have never included Jamie Lee Curtis, Julie Andrews, John Lithgow and several others In my negative remarks. Since numbers exceeding 100 lose all meaning or significance to me, whenever I read of this or that large advance I had trouble believing that such a book could possibly "make money" for its publishers. Rather, I supposed books like these were using up the x numbers of dollars allotted to the acquisition of children's book manuscripts.
Digging a little deeper into the impetus for my displeasure, I find that it wasn't really the money that rankled. What bothered me more and probably still bothers me,(and other writers, I suspect), is that editorial departments, so overworked and understaffed they don't have time even to send rejection slips, still necessarily find the necessary resources to read, edit, publish and promote manuscripts that would languish in the slush pile or be returned unopened were it not for that magical name and address connected with it.
So maybe my discontent is not so much occasioned by the celebrities who submit books as by the publishers who can't afford to staff children's book departments with adequate personnel.
I work hard at my craft, and I have been incredibly lucky. I know I have no right to complain. However, viewing the changes in the submission process that have taken place between 1990, when I first submitted a children's book manuscript, and today, I feel so much sadness. But maybe I'm just getting old -- could be.
Regardless, when I go into a bookstore and see the beautiful and intriguing books there for children to choose from, I thank my lucky stars that I can usually find one or two of my books still there among such distinguished company.
Cheers, everyone -- happy reading and happy writing to you all. Sally Derby
Received on Sun 10 Jun 2007 01:47:14 PM CDT
