Say Bologna to anyone interested in
children’s writing and the response back is a dreamy far away look that goes
with the heart felt phrase “wouldn’t it be heaven to be there.”
I was seriously jealous reading my twitter
stream this week as agents were heading to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and
talking all about it.
New Zealand has always been known as a
country that ‘punches above its weight’ in the global political scene. We were in on forming the League of
Nations and the UN and for any Americans that believe Argo is fact...um
actually NZ was hiding Americans but we don’t talk about it....
Yesterday at Bologna to celebrate 50 years
of the fair...everyone voted on the Best Children’s Publisher In The World by
region. Six regions. Six winners. Our little Gecko Press from Wellington won
their region. To stand acknowledged by your peers at the biggest children’s
book fair in the world as one of the best publishers in the world...after only
eight years of existence...is mind boggling.
Congratulations Julia Marshall!
Well Deserved!
So what else is happening at Bologna?
This year in the Tools of Change conference,
that starts the day before the fair at Bologna, Bowker had an extraordinary
presentation. Porter Anderson discusses the data from the slideshow which
Bowker have made available and it does turn perceptions about children’s
publishing upside down... for instance the biggest buyers of YA are...adults for
themselves! If you are involved in children’s publishing take some time to go
through the slides...food for thought all over them.
Joe Wikert, also at Bologna, is looking at the rise of children’s e-publishing. He profiles the winners in the interactive e-book awards. There is a video that is a must watch so that you can see why
these books won! Great to see Michael Morpurgo’s book in there...and what a
fascinating non fiction winner that is!
Outside of Bologna....
Barnes and Noble pull of Simon and Schuster books over their refusal to pay the new prices to have their books displayed is
the hot topic of the week. Guess who are the people hurt in this one....
Novel Rocket is getting the comments after
posting an article saying you should only write in one genre...
Courtney Milan looks at the New US Supreme
Court ruling about First Sale Rights and the death of geographic rights...and
checks out what it will mean for fiction writers...This is for all those
writers who have ever wondered why their book is priced differently in
different countries and whether they can order cheap copies from one country
and onsell them...
Selling POD into bookstores...This is an
interesting guest post on Catherine Ryan Howard’s blog.
Project Middle Grade did a survey about what kids actually looked at when sizing up a new book...Writers...You may have
to change your focus!
What are Asians really interested in reading? Topical with everyone wondering how to get into the Asian market.
Diymfa on online writing communities...where do you get your support?
The Telegraph has published 30 things writers should know...a guest article from Matt Haig.
In Craft,
The funniest query to an agent...tip don’t
do any of these.
In Marketing,
Indie friendly Book Reviewers...an
exhaustive list...(must keep)
To Finish,
Dean Wesley Smith’s article on sales from
his Think Like A Publisher series is getting a workout on Twitter. If you
haven’t read it check it out...coz from little things grow Bologna
opportunities....
Happy Easter!
maureen
pic: The Magnificent Julia Marshall of
Gecko Press at Bologna.
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