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[CCBC-Net] Addendum to the WRINKLE IN TIME discussion
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From: James Elliott <libraryjim>
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:29:53 -0400 (EDT)
I don't quite understand the absolute FEAR and loathing of publishing a novel that has a traditional religious bent, when we seem so intent on publishing anything else that is controversial of nature (for example, the recent discussion on GLBT books for teens).
Why is this subject such a taboo? it seems a bit hypocritical to me.
It can't be sales potential, with christian lit for teens and pre-teens (everything from "Left Behind: the kids" -- which I can't stand myself -- to "Adventures in Odessey" "Cam Jensen" etc.) consistently selling in high numbers
Jim Elliott North Florida, USA
----- Original Message ----- From: Jcgiblin at aol.com To: ccbc-net at lists.education.wisc.edu Sent: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:16:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [CCBC-Net] Addendum to the WRINKLE IN TIME discussion
Maybe it was because Beatrice Creighton was one of the 28 or 29 editors who turned down A WRINKLE IN TIME. Over a lunch one day, shortly after WRINKLE won the Newbery, a not-so-regretful Miss Creighton told me why she'd declined the story, which she said had a different title when she saw it: MRS. WHO, MRS. WHATZIT, AND MRS. WHICH. I remember quite clearly the gist of what she told me. It went like this: "Madeleine writes wonderfully well, but I just couldn't go along with all the religion business. I thought it got in the way of the story. But I knew Madeleine wouldn't consider any revisions -- so I said
"No." (She was sipping a glass of wine as she spoke.) "I'm sure I've cost Crown (Lothrop's owner then) a lot of money. But I'm really not sorry; I wouldn't have enjoyed working on that story."
A footnote: Beatrice Creighton was the daughter of a minister -- I believe a Methodist minister.
Jim Giblin
Received on Fri 25 Jul 2008 11:29:53 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:29:53 -0400 (EDT)
I don't quite understand the absolute FEAR and loathing of publishing a novel that has a traditional religious bent, when we seem so intent on publishing anything else that is controversial of nature (for example, the recent discussion on GLBT books for teens).
Why is this subject such a taboo? it seems a bit hypocritical to me.
It can't be sales potential, with christian lit for teens and pre-teens (everything from "Left Behind: the kids" -- which I can't stand myself -- to "Adventures in Odessey" "Cam Jensen" etc.) consistently selling in high numbers
Jim Elliott North Florida, USA
----- Original Message ----- From: Jcgiblin at aol.com To: ccbc-net at lists.education.wisc.edu Sent: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:16:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [CCBC-Net] Addendum to the WRINKLE IN TIME discussion
Maybe it was because Beatrice Creighton was one of the 28 or 29 editors who turned down A WRINKLE IN TIME. Over a lunch one day, shortly after WRINKLE won the Newbery, a not-so-regretful Miss Creighton told me why she'd declined the story, which she said had a different title when she saw it: MRS. WHO, MRS. WHATZIT, AND MRS. WHICH. I remember quite clearly the gist of what she told me. It went like this: "Madeleine writes wonderfully well, but I just couldn't go along with all the religion business. I thought it got in the way of the story. But I knew Madeleine wouldn't consider any revisions -- so I said
"No." (She was sipping a glass of wine as she spoke.) "I'm sure I've cost Crown (Lothrop's owner then) a lot of money. But I'm really not sorry; I wouldn't have enjoyed working on that story."
A footnote: Beatrice Creighton was the daughter of a minister -- I believe a Methodist minister.
Jim Giblin
Received on Fri 25 Jul 2008 11:29:53 AM CDT
