From: Lyn Miller-Lachmann <lynml_at_me.com>
Date: Fri, 17 May 2013 11:42:45 -0400

I was at that discussion, and it was interesting, not the least because of the research and visuals of Zetta Elliott. I believe she has made these available on her blog, Fledgling.

One way of getting at the question of whether writers with certain characteristics are more successful at getting published by large traditional publishers is to look at the composition of authors who are published by small presses and who end up self publishing. For instance, if we find that 2 percent of the books published by mainstream presses are by members of X group, but 10 percent of small press published books and 15 percent of self-published books are written by members of the same group, that tells us something. It tells us that the books are being written, but they're not breaking into the mainstream. That's a very different thing from saying the books aren't being written at all.

Lyn Miller-Lachmann

On May 17, 2013, at 11:30 AM, Edith Sutterlin wrote:

Charles,

Your emails offer an interesting analysis. This is fascinating research and statistics. I appreciate your sharing this.

I have a question -- IF anyone knows the answer. I don't think I saw it in my quick read (I'll go back to read again for precision)

What are the numbers and percentages of males v. females, and for different races/ethnic/social backgrounds and ages would be nice to know too, of

1. published authors and 2. people submitting children's book proposals/ideas or manuscripts that do not get published?

I don't know if that is an area for research or if the statistics are out there, but the NY Public Library Children's Literary Salon did address some issues in publishing of work by ethnic minority and female authors in a very interesting discussion earlier this year.

Edith Sutterlin
Received on Fri 17 May 2013 11:42:45 AM CDT