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Re: Three more thoughts on discovering and growing the numbers of diverse books
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From: Rosanne Parry <rosanneparry_at_comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:37:32 -0800
Once again grateful for a thought provoking conversation here.
I have two suggestions neither of which are free or easy but both are well worth considering.
1. Programs like the Oregon Battle of the Books do an outstanding job of motivating families to read together and generating sports-level excitement around reading. For whatever it says about our culture all parents whether they are wealthy or not know what it means to be on a team. Specifically, they know I should get what my kids need for the team, I should make them practice, I should show up and cheer. And they do. By the 100s at regional tournaments.
Booksellers across the state report brisk sales from their displays of Battle-chosen books from June when the next year's list is announced through early spring when the actual battles begin. If you want to improve both the volume and quality of what kids are reading I can't think of a stronger program than this. I know that Illinois also has Battle of the Books. They are generally run by a combination of school librarians and parent volunteers. If you want to start a Book Battle in your state I'm sure there are people on this list who know all about how to accomplish that.
2. Many authors in Oregon who've been at this longer than me report a steep decline in author visits to schools in recent years. The schools who continue to invite authors tend to be majority white and within 20 miles of Portland. Author visits are an important part of inspiring the next generation of writers. Most of the low income students and many of the non-white students in this state are outside of the Portland area. Many mid-list authors are able to continue writing only because they have been able to supplement royalties with school visits.
I was concerned that we would loose our author visiting culture in the state so I partnered with the Oregon SCBWI to create the Youth Outreach Tours. The local SCBWI subsidizes a portion of the travel and hotel bills. The author visits schools not for their usual rate but for $1 per enrolled child in the school. That's a number that even a very low income community can almost always support. The author also does evening events at the local library for the whole community. These events are free and hosted by the public library. The nearest independent bookseller coordinates the sale of books at the community events. The librarians and bookstore owners contact local media and help set up radio interviews in which raises the profile and future membership of the SCBWI. Local members SCBWI host the touring authors for a meal and schmooze with nearby members. It's a win for everybody. It is true that the author will not make money on the tour. The goal with the subsidy and reduced speaker rate is that the author will break even. The gain for the author is more long term in book sales and helpful connections made for the long term. I'm going to be doing the first of these tours in March of this year. Our goal is to eventually do 2 tours a year, one in the western half of the state and one in the east.
So not a simple solution. Nor one with an immediately measurable outcome. But it is work which gives me personally a lot of satisfaction.
Rosanne Parry
Written in Stone, 2013 Second Fiddle, 2011 Heart of a Shepherd, 2009 www.rosanneparry.com
Date: Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:37:32 -0800
Once again grateful for a thought provoking conversation here.
I have two suggestions neither of which are free or easy but both are well worth considering.
1. Programs like the Oregon Battle of the Books do an outstanding job of motivating families to read together and generating sports-level excitement around reading. For whatever it says about our culture all parents whether they are wealthy or not know what it means to be on a team. Specifically, they know I should get what my kids need for the team, I should make them practice, I should show up and cheer. And they do. By the 100s at regional tournaments.
Booksellers across the state report brisk sales from their displays of Battle-chosen books from June when the next year's list is announced through early spring when the actual battles begin. If you want to improve both the volume and quality of what kids are reading I can't think of a stronger program than this. I know that Illinois also has Battle of the Books. They are generally run by a combination of school librarians and parent volunteers. If you want to start a Book Battle in your state I'm sure there are people on this list who know all about how to accomplish that.
2. Many authors in Oregon who've been at this longer than me report a steep decline in author visits to schools in recent years. The schools who continue to invite authors tend to be majority white and within 20 miles of Portland. Author visits are an important part of inspiring the next generation of writers. Most of the low income students and many of the non-white students in this state are outside of the Portland area. Many mid-list authors are able to continue writing only because they have been able to supplement royalties with school visits.
I was concerned that we would loose our author visiting culture in the state so I partnered with the Oregon SCBWI to create the Youth Outreach Tours. The local SCBWI subsidizes a portion of the travel and hotel bills. The author visits schools not for their usual rate but for $1 per enrolled child in the school. That's a number that even a very low income community can almost always support. The author also does evening events at the local library for the whole community. These events are free and hosted by the public library. The nearest independent bookseller coordinates the sale of books at the community events. The librarians and bookstore owners contact local media and help set up radio interviews in which raises the profile and future membership of the SCBWI. Local members SCBWI host the touring authors for a meal and schmooze with nearby members. It's a win for everybody. It is true that the author will not make money on the tour. The goal with the subsidy and reduced speaker rate is that the author will break even. The gain for the author is more long term in book sales and helpful connections made for the long term. I'm going to be doing the first of these tours in March of this year. Our goal is to eventually do 2 tours a year, one in the western half of the state and one in the east.
So not a simple solution. Nor one with an immediately measurable outcome. But it is work which gives me personally a lot of satisfaction.
Rosanne Parry
Written in Stone, 2013 Second Fiddle, 2011 Heart of a Shepherd, 2009 www.rosanneparry.com
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Received on Sat 08 Feb 2014 03:37:50 PM CST
