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[CCBC-Net] ON ANTHOLOGY/LEE BENNETT HOPKINS
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From: Lbhcove at aol.com <Lbhcove>
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:22:07 EDT
Ginny Kruse hits an important subject head on when she states an "anthology requires an editor who will be committed to its evolution and to its promotion."
And yes, Charlotte Zolotow was one of those rare editors who had a passion for poetry.
Back in l984 -- 24 years ago -- Charlotte and I were having lunch when I asked why there had never been an I CAN READ book of poetry, especially since the line had been in existence since the l950's.
Charlotte, literally, dropped a fork and said no one had ever mentioned it before.
"Do it, Lee," she said. "Do it!"
I did.
This was the beginning of the I CAN READ POETRY book series I began. SURPRISES, published in l984 still remains in paperback! An incredible statistic.
Anne Hoppe took the reins after Charlotte's retirement. Anne and I have done many books together including a new I CAN READ: HAMSTERS, SHELLS, AND SPELLING BEES due out next month from HarperCollins. It is, I believe, about my l3th I CAN READ.
I am also lucky enough to now be in the hands of Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow who published my DAYS TO CELEBRATE and the forthcoming INCREDIBLE INVENTIONS
(Spring, 2008), as well as Emma Dryden at McElderry Books.
All of these editors certainly do have poetry at heart.
Anthology is a mysterious phenomenon. And it has become an expensive one, also. Permissions for a book of l4-l6 poems can run as high as $6,000.00; a larger volume close to $l0,000. The endless time it takes for permissions is exhausting.
AMERICA AT WAR took close to four years to see the light of day. I've other books in production going on 4-5 years, even more.
Few realize the amount of work that goes into the making of a collection.
It is no wonder there are fewer and fewer anthologies appearing on the marketplace.
This is sad for there are too many reasons for me to cite on the value of collections.
I know the discussion of poetry is coming to a close.
Again, I sincerely thank Megan for providing this topic...and I sincerely thank all the posts -- both public and personal -- that I have received from this experience.
It reaffirms my belief that people are, indeed, passing the poetry.
I close with this verse I penned in answer to many who have asked me:
WHY POETRY?
Why poetry? Why? Why sunsets? Why trees? Why birds? Why seas? Why you? Why me? Why friends? Why families? Why laugh? Why cry? Why hello? Why good-bye? Why poetry? That?s why!
(WHY POETRY? by Lee Bennett Hopkins is reprinted by permission of Curtis-Brown)
AMERICA AT WAR (McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)
_www.simonsays.com_ (http://www.simonsays.com/)
**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.
(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
Received on Wed 16 Apr 2008 04:22:07 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:22:07 EDT
Ginny Kruse hits an important subject head on when she states an "anthology requires an editor who will be committed to its evolution and to its promotion."
And yes, Charlotte Zolotow was one of those rare editors who had a passion for poetry.
Back in l984 -- 24 years ago -- Charlotte and I were having lunch when I asked why there had never been an I CAN READ book of poetry, especially since the line had been in existence since the l950's.
Charlotte, literally, dropped a fork and said no one had ever mentioned it before.
"Do it, Lee," she said. "Do it!"
I did.
This was the beginning of the I CAN READ POETRY book series I began. SURPRISES, published in l984 still remains in paperback! An incredible statistic.
Anne Hoppe took the reins after Charlotte's retirement. Anne and I have done many books together including a new I CAN READ: HAMSTERS, SHELLS, AND SPELLING BEES due out next month from HarperCollins. It is, I believe, about my l3th I CAN READ.
I am also lucky enough to now be in the hands of Virginia Duncan at Greenwillow who published my DAYS TO CELEBRATE and the forthcoming INCREDIBLE INVENTIONS
(Spring, 2008), as well as Emma Dryden at McElderry Books.
All of these editors certainly do have poetry at heart.
Anthology is a mysterious phenomenon. And it has become an expensive one, also. Permissions for a book of l4-l6 poems can run as high as $6,000.00; a larger volume close to $l0,000. The endless time it takes for permissions is exhausting.
AMERICA AT WAR took close to four years to see the light of day. I've other books in production going on 4-5 years, even more.
Few realize the amount of work that goes into the making of a collection.
It is no wonder there are fewer and fewer anthologies appearing on the marketplace.
This is sad for there are too many reasons for me to cite on the value of collections.
I know the discussion of poetry is coming to a close.
Again, I sincerely thank Megan for providing this topic...and I sincerely thank all the posts -- both public and personal -- that I have received from this experience.
It reaffirms my belief that people are, indeed, passing the poetry.
I close with this verse I penned in answer to many who have asked me:
WHY POETRY?
Why poetry? Why? Why sunsets? Why trees? Why birds? Why seas? Why you? Why me? Why friends? Why families? Why laugh? Why cry? Why hello? Why good-bye? Why poetry? That?s why!
(WHY POETRY? by Lee Bennett Hopkins is reprinted by permission of Curtis-Brown)
AMERICA AT WAR (McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster)
_www.simonsays.com_ (http://www.simonsays.com/)
**************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos.
(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)
Received on Wed 16 Apr 2008 04:22:07 PM CDT
