Posted by Peter H on July 11, 2002 at 14:44:31 from 62.6.93.3 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: Books - publishers posted by John Lambert on July 10, 2002 at 22:15:01:
Good for you, and good luck, John. Remember that producing a book is easy, if you have sufficient capital to get a number of copies printed. The problems start when you try and sell the book. You have to rely on a few friendly booksellers and 'word of mouth' on the children's grapevine. (By the way, you also have to store all the unsold copies yourself - storage in warehouses is expensive.) But go for it!
Just a final note, however, on publishers. May I wearily point out (I shouldn't have to, for God's sake) that publishers do not 'denigrate' anybody. I used to know an editor in Walker Books, a specialist children's book publisher. She was about 30, and had children of her own. She had an enormous interest in children and their needs and preferences in reading matter. She was immensely encouraging to me and to other potential writers. But she had a sharp eye for what would appeal to today's child, and what would not. Her judgment was far more reliable to her employers than sample groups of children who would probably all give different verdicts on the same story. She was typical of the sort of editor in children's publishing now. She freely admitted that she would like to have taken more risks, but the economic constraints of her firm would not allow this. All down to the accountants, I'm afraid.