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Re: Latino books & lack thereof
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From: Mary Louise Sanchez <marylouisesanchez_3_at_msn.com>
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:34:01 -0700
First of all, I will definitely read Rosanne's new book Written in Stone because I enjoyed her other two stories so much.
I'm not published yet, but as a Latina writer of children's stories, I know the best thing I have done my entire life is to read, read, read. My reading continues to include award books and the newest books getting published. For me it has always been about the story and if the writer took me into their Hispanic experience--all the better.
One advantage I had was that I became a public school children's teacher/librarian and bought the best books I could for the money. Then I integrated them into the curriculum. We need to make an extra effort to encourage minority children to go into the book field as librarians, editors, and agents. Thank goodness children are learning what makes a good story. I never had that formal training, except through reading and discussing them.
Even though I was familiar with children's literature and certainly learned from the books, I didn't know the business side. It has taken me eight years to learn what I know. It was very helpful to take the steps to join SCBWI and participate in various conferences, workshops, and hear agents and editors speak. Thank goodness my submissions for critique were anonymous and my sweaty palms did dry after my oral pitches. One has to learn to have a thick skin too and realize agents, editors, and critique members are not out to criticize you, your race, culture, or ethnicity. They are there to help you create the best story you have to tell.
I believe every author should not only discuss craft with children, but they should discuss their path to becoming an author. Imagine how inspiring it could be for all our children to hear authors talk about their journey and especially for our minority children to see someone who looks like them.
Mary Louise Sanchez
----- Original Message -----
From: Rosanne Parry To: Cammie L. Backus Cc: CCBC Net Sent: Friday, February 08, 2013 3:59 PM Subject: Re:
Latino books & lack thereof
I'm delighted to hear you chime in Cammie in part because you've got an excellent question there; one I couldn't begin to answer, but one I've wondered about.
And also you've reminded me that one of RIF's lesser known, but extremely valuable, services is to bring authors to some of the lowest income schools in the country.
I think Debbie has an excellent point about the need for books not just about the minority experience but by minority authors. We don't have nearly enough and the solution to that problem is a long term one, but certainly part of the answer is to bring authors to schools with children of color to mentor and inspire a new generation of writers. There are many obstacles to getting your stories published by a traditional publishing house no matter what the ethnicity of the author. But at the very start of the game, believing you have a story to tell is the heart of the matter.
So not to sidetrack the discussion entirely, but how do we get a more diverse pool of authors? For those you you who have managed it, what help was most helpful to you? What barriers were most difficult to overcome?
Rosanne Parry WRITTEN IN STONE, 2013 SECOND FIDDLE, 2011 HEART OF A SHEPHERD, 2009 www.rosanneparry.com
Date: Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:34:01 -0700
First of all, I will definitely read Rosanne's new book Written in Stone because I enjoyed her other two stories so much.
I'm not published yet, but as a Latina writer of children's stories, I know the best thing I have done my entire life is to read, read, read. My reading continues to include award books and the newest books getting published. For me it has always been about the story and if the writer took me into their Hispanic experience--all the better.
One advantage I had was that I became a public school children's teacher/librarian and bought the best books I could for the money. Then I integrated them into the curriculum. We need to make an extra effort to encourage minority children to go into the book field as librarians, editors, and agents. Thank goodness children are learning what makes a good story. I never had that formal training, except through reading and discussing them.
Even though I was familiar with children's literature and certainly learned from the books, I didn't know the business side. It has taken me eight years to learn what I know. It was very helpful to take the steps to join SCBWI and participate in various conferences, workshops, and hear agents and editors speak. Thank goodness my submissions for critique were anonymous and my sweaty palms did dry after my oral pitches. One has to learn to have a thick skin too and realize agents, editors, and critique members are not out to criticize you, your race, culture, or ethnicity. They are there to help you create the best story you have to tell.
I believe every author should not only discuss craft with children, but they should discuss their path to becoming an author. Imagine how inspiring it could be for all our children to hear authors talk about their journey and especially for our minority children to see someone who looks like them.
Mary Louise Sanchez
----- Original Message -----
From: Rosanne Parry To: Cammie L. Backus Cc: CCBC Net Sent: Friday, February 08, 2013 3:59 PM Subject: Re:
Latino books & lack thereof
I'm delighted to hear you chime in Cammie in part because you've got an excellent question there; one I couldn't begin to answer, but one I've wondered about.
And also you've reminded me that one of RIF's lesser known, but extremely valuable, services is to bring authors to some of the lowest income schools in the country.
I think Debbie has an excellent point about the need for books not just about the minority experience but by minority authors. We don't have nearly enough and the solution to that problem is a long term one, but certainly part of the answer is to bring authors to schools with children of color to mentor and inspire a new generation of writers. There are many obstacles to getting your stories published by a traditional publishing house no matter what the ethnicity of the author. But at the very start of the game, believing you have a story to tell is the heart of the matter.
So not to sidetrack the discussion entirely, but how do we get a more diverse pool of authors? For those you you who have managed it, what help was most helpful to you? What barriers were most difficult to overcome?
Rosanne Parry WRITTEN IN STONE, 2013 SECOND FIDDLE, 2011 HEART OF A SHEPHERD, 2009 www.rosanneparry.com
---Received on Fri 08 Feb 2013 05:34:01 PM CST
