From: Cassie Wilson <catstaff1>
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:05:51 -0500

I know the topic is changing now, but this just keeps bothering me. I keep trying and trying to buy more of Vicki Cobbs books, especially to replace the ones that are checked out again and again and again by kids who prefer her books to anything newer. Her books are chosen more often than any other science fair books, and they're falling apart, but I can't buy new copies. Wouldn't you think that publishers would continue to publish tried and true authors for whom there is a demonstrated market? It's hard to believe that HarperCollins can be this foolish or that there isn't more demand than mine. Can anyone in publishing respond to this particular item?

Cassie Wilson




Vicki Cobb wrote:
> I certainly sympathize with Jane Yolen. I, too, can't complain in spite of the fact that HarperCollins is putting me out of print and has no interest in buying anything new from me, in spite of the fact that the Science Play series (still in print) won rave reviews and a national honor (Seibert).I'm told that their policy is to buy celebrity books and movie tie-ins.
>
> Interestingly, my public speaking business has never been better, and in fact is becoming the tail that wagged the dog. I put on a show for kids that's like a nightclub act. I get that, before anything else, I must be entertaining. Schools buy into the celebrity culture and need to treat me as a celebrity so that kids will become interested in reading science. My agent tells me that in the future the money will come increasingly from author's public appearances with bookselling at such events. Like it or not, authors will have to get their acts together if they want to eke out a living.
>
> Vicki Cobb
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Received on Tue 19 Jun 2007 10:05:51 PM CDT