the emotion of promotion

Recently, I had lunch with one of my teachers from college (more on that later) and one of her compliments to me was, "You've become so good at promotion!"

That took me a bit aback because I've never really thought of myself as good at promotion. I remembered how I struggled with it when Year of the Dog had just been published. Back then I thought promotion was kind of like selling and I was not good at selling.

And I'm still not good at selling. I still don't talk to the person sitting next to me on the airplane, much less tell them about my books. In a strange bookstore (ie not my local hangout) it takes me at least 20 minutes to get up the nerve to ask the bookseller if they'd like me to sign my books (and 7 out of 10 times I usually just don't ask and leave the books unsigned). And when I'm introduced to someone as a children's book author and he/she asks, "Would I know any of your books?" I always say, "Probably not."

However, I do have this blog, facebook page, a newsletter, and a twitter account (that is not really used often but I have it!). I've had contests, created book trailers and try to throw really big book parties. That is pretty promotional!

But, strangely, I really enjoy doing those things. How did that happen?

I realize the difference is the emotion behind the promotion. The things that I do now feel more like sharing and thanking people who enjoy my books. I remember one Christmas realizing how absolutely amazing it is that people read my books and I try to keep that in mind with each reader I interact with.* True or false, in my head & heart, the people who read my books have become my friends even though we don't know each other and may never meet.

And I think that is how I became "good at promotion." Instead of going through the motions of promoting my books, I found true emotion does the job much, much better.


*even though sometimes it takes me a long time to respond! I sometimes let the mail build up, right now I am guiltily looking at a pile that hasn't been touched since April. But I'll get to it, promise!

you tube is awesome, etc.

I've been working on a new webpage for my book about Balto. You can read the whole book here: - along with the author's note, which was not included in the F&G.

I'm trying to decide what else to include. I LOVE the fact that youtube is growing and growing. You can find almost anything on it! I have found old silent film footage of balto! How cool is that? I actually used this footage for my photo research to make the illustrations. So that's on the webpage.

Because youtube's growth I've found some cool videos for some of my other books, so I'm going to be doing some other updates as well. For example:



Also, I've been working on a website for my dad and I put up this recording I did this winter of him performing a song he wrote and used to sing to us when we were little girls. I used to love it - and still do! I got reminded of it by seeing Anna's photo of Bruno holding the baby.

Striking a goldmine?

Recently an older, much more successful author called me up, "to check in." I'm not going to say who it was, because it's not fair to blab out things about other people. They can do that themselves if they want to.

He asked (not for the first time) if I was going to ALA in New Orleans and I said no. He then proceeded to give me one of the most inspiring, life-changing talks I've ever received -- actually, I've probably received plenty of good advice over the years but maybe now it's life-changing because I act on it.

First, he said that if I want to sell my work, I can't just stay here all the time, "writing alone." I have to get out there and see what other people, other publishers are doing so I knew who to submit to. I said that I had an agent.

"You can't count on that," he said.

He said it was important to meet people, talk to people, create opportunities (he talked about this eloquently). I said that I wasn't good at selling myself (yes, all my responses sound like what my mother called "feeble excuses").

"It's not about striking a gold mine!" he said. "It's about laying groundwork."

I hope you agree that merits its own color and bold.

I think it's the most profound comment on how to work in this business I've ever heard. The romantic view is that you write the book (alone, inspired), send it in, and it becomes a bestseller. But in fact lasting success is usually achieved with steady, day-after-day plodding -- for the writing, one page at a time, hour after hour, day after day. (Or in the immortal words of Jane Yolen,

"Jarret, this is how it's done. BIC. Butt in chair.") For the selling, no matter where you are in your career it's the same thing -- steady effort, laying groundwork. In both, it's about getting better, through your own efforts.

When I go to the conference (and I AM going, who wouldn't, after that?) I'll go with the spirit that I'm there to:

* look and see who's doing books I like

* listen and learn

* introduce myself (following the rules Alvina posted here awhile ago)

* HAVE FUN

It's the only way. Despite my best efforts, my mss. may never get published, let alone ever be bestsellers. So I better enjoy the process -- ALL of it -- or quit the business.

And after all, how hard can it be to be in New Orleans, rooming with one of my best friends in the world, eating delicious food, looking at books, and (as Alvina said) talking to other people who love them?

Still not sure what to give for Father's Day?

I can help you there. A Photo for Greta makes the perfect Father's Day gift. After all, The New York Times called it a "paean to paternal love" and Publisher's Weekly says "Alter displays notable sensitivity to children’s insecurities and doubts, while providing reassurance of their worth". What more recommendation do you need?

Okay, enough advertising. Happy Father's Day everyone! Hope you spend Sunday celebrating all the great dads you know. I will be celebrating the guy below with a beer tasting, Indian take-out, and letting him sleep in while I take the baby at 6 am (for once).

Leg #2: Auckland, Part 2

Continued from Leg #1 (Melbourne) and Leg #2 Part 1 (Auckland).

Friday:
Friday in Auckland began with a Publisher's Forum. About 50 people from the New Zealand publishing industry were on hand for the discussion. The session opened with a panel on rights selling in the international market. I think the main takeaway of the session is how important the face-to-face meeting is, how important relationships are. As Stephen Maat (Bruna Netherlands) said, he could meet with a publisher every year for ten years and never buy anything, but there will be that day that they call him up, or send him that email and say, "This is the perfect book for you" and it will be.

Then, I was on a panel along with Tom Mayer (Norton) and Fergus Barrowman (Victoria University Press). Hal Wake (Vancouver Writers' Festival) moderated. A lot of what we talked about was how eBooks were changing the publishing industry--in NZ and Australia, eBooks have yet to hit the level that they have in the States, because they don't have the Kindle, Nook, or iBookstore. Tom talked about the opportunities and potential changes that eBooks and the market of Kindle Singles could have on the industry, particularly with nonfiction--eBooks may make it more acceptable to publish a 25 or 50 page book, as opposed to having to expand a nonfiction subject into longer, book-length work. Other advantages include being able to update nonfiction more frequently. We talked about the shift of making paper books more gifty, more objects to keep, vs the type of books that may eventually become e-only.

After a networking lunch we had one-on-one meetings with New Zealand publishers and agents--some just wanted to talk business/pick my brain about publishing in the US, some pitched books.

I finished up with meetings early enough to go for a run before dinner--unlike the rainy Wednesday, the weather was perfect for a run in the Auckland Domain.

I had a delicious sushi dinner with Cassandra Clare and her husband Josh--I had run into them in the lobby earlier--and then I was off to a cocktail party hosted by the Fesivals' board of trustees. Then back to the hotel where once again Karen Healey, Garth Nix, Sean Williams, Margo Lanagan, and others were convened in the hotel lobby for wine and sea breezes.

Saturday:
In the morning I met up with Alexis Warsham (Crown) in the lobby and we walked over to the Aotea Center where our Publishing Panel (this one open to the public) was housed. We found our way through back passages to the Green Room where Tom, Nikki Christer (Random House Australia) and our moderator publishing consultant Geoff Walker were already convened. We covered much of the same ground as our Industry Publishing Panel--talked a lot about eBooks, Amanda Hocking, Barry Eisler, etc etc. But of course when the Q&A portion began, we got a bunch of the expected "how do I get published" questions, and even one woman who was bold enough to actually pitch her book--luckily, it wasn't a children's or YA book, so I didn't have to turn her down in public, OR invite her to send it. One audience member asked us what we thought of the recent news that an agent was becoming an eBook publisher--to be honest, because I hadn't been able to check email and read the news as regularly while in NZ, I hadn't yet read about the news. Some of the others had heard the recent news of agent Ed Victor exploring eBook publishing, but the audience member mentioned it was the Andrea Brown Literary agent, which none of us had heard. So, basically, our response was, "we need to know more about it before we can comment" but "it might be a conflict of interest".

After a quick lunch, I was off to see Karen Healey speak with another NZ author, David Hair:

And then...and then I was off for the adventure I had hoped to have when I first arrived in Auckland. Behold, the Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere:

First, the walk. We walked the circumference of the tower with no rails:

Look, Ma! No hands!

Then, after a trip back down to the bottom to change my jumpsuit (apparently people get nervous when they see the orange jumpsuits falling off of the tower) I did the jump: 630 feet in 11 seconds!

Seconds after taking this picture, they dropped me to a platform below. So exhilarating!

Now, let me just say now that I'm not afraid of heights. At all. Sure, I may get a bit of a fluttery stomach sometimes, but usually barely even that. So, it's not like I wanted to do this to conquer any fear I had or be brave--I just wanted to do it because I thought it would be a beautiful view of the city (it was) and because I thought it would be fun (it was!). And, it's something different to tell people I did in New Zealand!

That evening I had a lovely and yummy Thai dinner with Karen Healey, and then we went to the Festival's closing party for all participants at the Alleluya Bar and Cafe. A good time was had by all. But I couldn't have a super late night, as I was leaving at 6:30 am for the airport to fly to Sydney.

Good-bye Auckland, hello Sydney! Leg #3: Sydney will be next. To be continued, yet again!

from the BRG archives: another beginning

Libby's posts on beginnings, and then Anna's post about BLOW OUT THE MOON (which was a beginning for me, too), and then Meghan's post about how it feels to begin painting a new book made me think about another beginning--my start at the company I work now.

This week another editor and I took our shared assistant out to lunch, and she was recounting how she felt after she interviewed with me, how badly she realized she wanted the job, so much so that she could barely talk about it after the interview to her boyfriend. This was so different from her reaction to other interviews she had been on that her boyfriend commented, "You really want this job, don't you."

It reminded me about my own beginning. I talk about my "path" in my interview here, but not the specifics, really. Not those moments, those specific moments that I'll remember forever:

-I remember how I spent the night before my interview frantically trying to figure out what to wear. I didn't own a suit then (I still don't, actually), and was trying on skirt after skirt, shirt after shirt. I finally settled on a black business skirt separate, and a nice, deep purple, short-sleeved T-shirt. And I borrowed a long black suit jacket from Grace (do you remember, Grace?!) that didn't quite fit right, but I thought made my outfit look more professional. I found out afterwards that Megan found my outfit "refreshing" compared to all of the boring interview suits. Whew.

-I remember how it was so incredibly hot and humid and sticky the day I interviewed--it was the middle of July. After my interview I was so distracted and excited and worried, because I wanted the job so much, more than I wanted anything else in the world. I was so distracted that after the interview I went to get on the T (subway) and completely forgot about using a token and ended up walking into the turnstyle without paying. Ouch.

Other moments:
-A few weeks later, I was standing at the information desk in the children's section of B&N where I worked, waiting for the phone call. I had interviewed for two jobs at the time, the EA job and also a position at the Horn Book, a job that my coworker at B&N also interviewed for. The Horn Book told us that they would wait to see who Megan hired for her editorial assistant before making their decision, because they assumed that was the more desireable job, but that process had of course dragged on longer than expected, so we were waiting for that call, too. I would have loved either job. So I was standing at the information station talking to my coworker when the intercom buzzed saying that she had a call. My heart started beating faster when she took the phone and I could tell that she was getting good news, and I felt a mixture of dispair and hope. When she got off the phone she was trying not to be too happy because she knew I was worried about my own situation. But I was happy for her. And even though I despaired that I wouldn't end up with either job, I also hoped that perhaps my not getting that job meant I would be getting the other...

-The WAITING. Oh, the waiting. It was agonizing. We all know how that waiting feels! Like waiting for the phone call from someone you like, like waiting to hear about a manuscript you've submitted. Like waiting to hear what your agent or editor thinks about your new book. But it was worth the wait. My future boss called me later that afternoon to make me the offer. I remember I was standing near the cash registers when my manager walked up to me and told me I had a call. When I picked up, it was her.

-And finally, a moment I talk about all the time. Two weeks into my job I remember the distinct feeling that I had found it. IT. I think I was photocopying something at the time--the exact task I don't quite remember, but I know it was somewhat menial. But still, I loved it, and I couldn't believe that I was actually working in children's book publishing, that this was my job, and I realized that this was what I wanted to do with my life, this was where I belonged. EUREKA!

I love these little snapshots of moments, these memories, remembering where I came from, how I felt. As my career progresses, I hope I don't forget these beginnings.

Originally published September 22nd, 2006

talking to grown-ups

About this time last weekend, I was looking at something like this:



Because I was the keynote speaker for the NJ SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) conference. While I do a lot of speaking, it had been a while since I presented to adults. I had to catch myself before I said anything like, "Now, please sit criss-cross applesauce!"


But it was very enjoyable! I forgot how much nice it can be speaking at events like this. I met many lovely people, including conference attendee Tara Lazar who wrote a recap of my speech here (thanks, Tara!) , Joyce Wan, the creator of Wanart which produces the adorable onesies I give to all my friends' new babies (which reminds me, I have to buy some more...)and many, many other talented authors and fantastic artists who are too numerous to name.

(Though I did want to include this photo of me and the talented Ryan Sias from whom I stole this photo from off of FB. It makes me laugh that we are matching. Ironically, later that day, I had a conversation about how the new thing in Korea is for couples to dress identically. So in Korea, people would've thought we were a couple! I'll have to get the Sasquatch a red shirt, now.)

But my favorite part was when later in the day Alvina and I gave a workshop about the author/editor relationship. Some of you may know that even though Alvina is my editor, she is also "Melody" in The Year of the Dog which is why I showed this photo:


Ha ha!!

Showering a Mother-to-Be with Children's Books!



Two weeks ago, I posted a few of the pictures that I took at my daughter’s baby shower. It was a wonderful event! Everyone who attended commented on the way I had decorated the room…with board books, picture books, poetry books, and alphabet blocks.




I still have plenty more books to give to my daughter and my son-in-law. But they won’t be the only ones reading to my grandchild! I’ve volunteered to take care of my grandchild three days a week when my daughter is back at work after her maternity leave. I plan to read hundreds of my favorite books to my first grandchild. I can’t wait because reading aloud to young children is one of the things that I love to do most. It’s something that I’ve really missed since I retired from my school library position in 2004.

Here is a poem that I wrote many years ago

about the joy of sharing books

with my Sara when she was a little girl:

A BOOK AND A CHAIR

A book and chair

Are nice to share

When the edges of day

Are melting away

Into the night.

A book and a chair

Are nice to share—

Touching and talking,

Reading and rocking

Into the night.

BTW, The Horn Book has an excellent article titled What Makes a Great Baby Shower Book? by Viki Ash and Betty Carter. You can read it here.

***************

At Wild Rose Reader, I have an original memoir poem titled Rain Barrel.

Anastasia Suen has the Poetry Friday Roundup at Picture Book of the Day.

kids are great

I got this letter yesterday from a girl named Cassidy:



I wrote more about this on my blog.

Kids see things that adults don't!

Congratulations, Alvina!

It's official! Yay, Ms. Editorial Director Alvina Ling! Congratulations! So well-deserved!

Getting settled

Right now life is a bit chaotic, so I just thought I'd give a quick update on all the settling in going on now that I am back on the East Coast. First off, this is what my office looks like:

Nice, huh? There is much to be done. But as I said a couple weeks ago, it feels good to go through all my things once again and purge. I feel like I'm wiping the slate clean and preparing for a new phase of life.

In between the unpacking and sorting I recently made a quick trip down to Mystic to see Linda's incredible play and visit with Libby, Alissa and her family. It was a lovely day involving a picnic and stroll by the water in Stonington, CT. Tilda enjoyed the fresh sea air and playing with Libby's hair.

When the mess in my office or stress of making a home *again* gets to be too much, I sit with Tilda and remember how lucky I am to have her (or more accurately, belong to her). I can't even imagine life without her at this point.

Thats all for now! Will be back to books as soon as those boxes disappear...

Darkness in YA Literature

I was at the New Jersey SCBWI conference over the weekend (with Grace!)--it was a wonderful time with great speakers, workshops, keynotes (Grace!), food, and more. I'd say it's one of the top regional SCBWI conferences, in part because of its close proximity to NYC--they probably get more agents and editors on the faculty each year than any other region (aside from the annual conferences in NY and LA). Check out the lineup here.

But in short, because I was away all weekend, I didn't have time to continue blogging about my Auckland and Australia trip (at this rate, I'll finish blogging about it by Fall!).

Instead, I thought I'd direct you all to a few links. Over the weekend, the Twitterverse was once again alive with controversy. If you haven't yet read the article in the Wall Street Journal "Darkness too Visible", about how depraved YA literature has become, I would recommend reading it now, although I'll warn you that it may make you angry. It made me angry.

I'm not saying that there isn't extreme darkness in YA literature. Of course there is. But I absolutely LOVED dark books as a teen. I read all of Stephen King's books when I was 12. I loved V.C. Andrews. I loved Lois Duncan, Robert Cormier, The Outsiders, A Separate Peace, books about suicide, anorexia, addiction, sex, murder, incest, death, etc. None of these books made me anorexic, suicidal, incestuous, or homicidal.

I loved books that made me cry, and I loved books that made me think. I also liked books that made me laugh, that simply entertained me. I loved the classics. I also loved the fluff.

Personally, I think that pretty much "anything goes" in YA lit, because before YA lit existed, teens were reading adult books. They still are. There is a need and a market for all kinds of books.

But at any rate, authors Laurie Halse Anderson, Barry Lyga, Libba Bray, Cecil Castellucci, and many many more say it much better than me. They are, after all, artists.

From Cecil:

I think that we underestimate teenagers and young people in general. Because it’s not that they become desensitized to violence or anything bad when they read these things in books. It’s that they are growing their world. And oftentimes they only understand what they are ready for. And no one, not me, not you, not anyone, can ever dictate what someone is or isn’t ready for. Or what they might need to find their way. Sometimes darkness leads to light. That is what is so great about all young adult fiction.

And for the record, not all contemporary YA fiction is dark. The WSJ article would lead you to believe that all of it deals with dark subjects. But it doesn’t. But it is fantastic news for all of us that some of it is. I like to look at some of the hard things that are being written about as opportunities for conversation. What one child is ready for is not necessarily what another child is ready for. Teenagers, like adults, come in all different shapes and forms. They also have different tastes. I don’t argue with that.

But that doesn’t mean that you deny a book that some kid might need. Some kid might need Shine. Or Scars. Or Marbury Lens. Or Hunger Games. Or Rage. Or any other book that might seem at the outset to be too dark. Why not talk to them? Why not figure out why they are attracted to whatever it is they are reading?

For Ms. Gurdon to say that the YA publishing industry “pulls up its petticoats and shrieks 'censorship!'” is ridiculous. If you are saying that books should be cleared off shelves because they are not to your tastes, then we cry censorship because it is censorship. Children and YA books are banned because adults try to decide what is appropriate or not for a child. But the thing is, you don’t know what is appropriate for every child. You don’t know what book a kid’s life might well depend on.

Check out the hashtag #YASaves on Twitter for some inspiration.

Tell me your book flavor!

Are you going to ALA in June? Me too!

I have some spare time after my schedule book signing on Saturday, June 25 (10-11am!) and it would be fun to interview some more authors for my Book Flavor interviews! Let me know if YOU want to be the subject of one of them at gracelin.manager@gmail.com and we can start arranging!

REMEMBER by Christina Rossetti: A Poem in Memory of a Dear Friend

Dr. Stephen D. Hayes



Last Saturday, I lost one of my oldest and dearest friends--Dr. Stephen D. Hayes. Both my husband Mike and I had been close to Steve and his wife Clare for nearly fifty years. Steve was a brilliant man of great accomplishment. A child and adult psychologist, psychoanalyst, and addiction specialist, he held three doctorates and two board certifications. He was the co-founder of the Lynn Community Health Center in Lynn, Massachusetts. He helped build a thriving Behavioral Health and Integrated Care Service department at LCHC. The LCHC now serves more than 33,000 people—including 45% of the children who live in the city. Steve was dedicated to serving the people who came to the health center for four decades. He helped thousands of people during his lifetime.

Steve had a real passion for life. He and Clare took great joy in entertaining their close friends. Steve had the most wonderful sense of humor and a great hearty laugh. Mike and I loved being in his company. We spent many of the most memorable days of our lives with Steve and Clare--celebrating Fourth of July holidays on their boat moored in Marblehead Harbor...ringing in the New Year with them at Mittersill in the White Mountains of New Hampshire...spending Memorial Day weekends with them on Cape Cod when our children were young...having gourmet cookoffs with them and other friends at their home in Salem.

L to R: Mike, Steve, Clare, Me

I will miss my Steve. My long friendship with him enriched my life. His loss has left an empty place in my heart. Still, I have vivid and happy memories of all the wonderful times that we spent together.

I selected the following poem to post today in memory of Steve:


REMEMBER

by Christina Rossetti

Remember me when I am gone away,
Gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more, day by day,
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:
Only remember me; you understand
It will be late to counsel then or pray.


Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.







********************

At Wild Rose Reader, I have posted a poem titled HOLES by Lillian Morrison in memory of my friend Steve.

A Wild Rose Reader post in memory of Dr. Stephen D. Hayes.

Toby Speed has the Poetry Friday Roundup at The Writer’s Armchair.