tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post735986865052627251..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: We children's authors are a supportive bunch, cheering each other on through gritted teethCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-24666952728983894772013-02-07T16:14:11.667+00:002013-02-07T16:14:11.667+00:00I've had the 'not right for our list' ...I've had the 'not right for our list' line quite a few times in the past - then after the fact once met one of the editors who told me just what you said (it resembled the work of another author so they couldn't do it). So perhaps not just a line all the time!Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-71390774335277326812013-02-07T09:21:08.055+00:002013-02-07T09:21:08.055+00:00I found that interesting too. There's probably...I found that interesting too. There's probably been quite a few meetings that have begun with 'Right, guys, Amanda Hocking. Discuss.'<br /><br />And Nick - you're doomed. Maureen Lynashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16855138050232488108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-28836202794380947272013-02-06T16:56:52.773+00:002013-02-06T16:56:52.773+00:00Lets cheer their success as without the best selle...Lets cheer their success as without the best sellers there won't be any bookshops to sell in<br />And then what?<br />Cheery thought for the dayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03339600535768801894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-27586431033108769412013-02-06T12:29:36.192+00:002013-02-06T12:29:36.192+00:00Thanks Colleen! Thanks Colleen! Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52977147266439503312013-02-06T12:26:14.372+00:002013-02-06T12:26:14.372+00:00Independent publishers like Nosy Crow are quickly ...Independent publishers like Nosy Crow are quickly building author cred because they appear to have more personal engagement with their authors and look positively fleet of foot next to more corporate publishers!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-64856077840144145462013-02-06T12:24:55.758+00:002013-02-06T12:24:55.758+00:00Yes! I was surprised too! But it didn't surpri...Yes! I was surprised too! But it didn't surprise me that much... the changes our industry is going through are seismic. Hugely heartened though by the verdict that a lot of great books are getting published anyway.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-21565057324510945942013-02-06T12:23:10.018+00:002013-02-06T12:23:10.018+00:00The good news with this expanding digital world is...The good news with this expanding digital world is now more than ever there's a huge need for storytellers. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52065477667673031082013-02-06T12:20:59.862+00:002013-02-06T12:20:59.862+00:00Tis true ... but so much also depends on writing t...Tis true ... but so much also depends on writing the right book at the right time. How many rejections have you had saying it's not right for their list? I was chatting to an editor friend the other day about a book we both loved which editor friend sadly passed on. The reason? It really wasn't right for their list because it was too similar to a book they'd only just signed. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-74951222452668002492013-02-06T12:14:11.437+00:002013-02-06T12:14:11.437+00:00Thanks for the thoughtful ramble. The publishing w...Thanks for the thoughtful ramble. The publishing world is a fascinating mix of the commercial and the sublime ... by definition I guess it's hard to combine doing things for money with doing things for love (something we authors know only too well). When publishers get the balance right it's just magic. Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-69068416166687169572013-02-06T12:08:43.679+00:002013-02-06T12:08:43.679+00:00Bookmarks ... which reminds me to have some more m...Bookmarks ... which reminds me to have some more made!Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-77791252441387207152013-02-06T11:05:33.943+00:002013-02-06T11:05:33.943+00:00It's interesting, the idea that publishers are...It's interesting, the idea that publishers are the ones with a self-confidence problem - it turns the usual model on its head! I'm a publisher and a writer - how neurotic does that make me now?!?Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-19458696715145417402013-02-06T10:05:07.984+00:002013-02-06T10:05:07.984+00:00Great post, Candy - interesting and thought-provok...Great post, Candy - interesting and thought-provoking. I know that Nosy Crow have done an infinitely better job than I could ever have done at packaging, marketing, publicising and selling my book. But I'm sure that the more people are talking about books, buying books and reading books, no matter who wrote them or who published them, the better it is for all of us, because it all creates a buzz around books and reading . So yes, I always cheer the success of others. <br /><br />(By the way, my children are now the proud owners of Tall Story bookmarks, which we were very excited to find by the till at the Children's Bookshop, Muswell Hill, on Saturday. And very lovely they are too.)Helen Petersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-88259157429133299472013-02-06T09:30:06.113+00:002013-02-06T09:30:06.113+00:00I have argued often for publishers to work better ...I have argued often for publishers to work better with their authors, in partnership, not with the publisher occasionally patting the author on the head and saying "Run along now." I've done some self-publishing and it brings me a nice/modest regular income but it has stopped me writing because the publishing/distributing/selling side is so time-consuming. And that has taught me more about the task that publishers have. So, I don't want to self-publish again - though I will if I have an idea that would only work that way - I want to work with a wonderful publisher. And I'm delighted and impressed with what Walker Books have up their sleeve for a new edition of Blame My Brain - which is very much not a new book. It's worth saying that a lot of what they are doing for it I could not do, not even if I had more time. So, when publishers get it right they are where I want to be. Oh, and I definitely cheer the success of others - though it's an awful lot easier when the person is nice!<br /><br />Apols for the ramble. Great post!Nicola Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07847390687632715336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-54281242066726573912013-02-06T08:50:24.489+00:002013-02-06T08:50:24.489+00:00Fab post - I recall very clearly Greg Mosse tellin...Fab post - I recall very clearly Greg Mosse telling all of us Creative Writing MA graduates to remember that the industry needs US - not the other way round. As for the gritted teeth bit - oh yeah! It makes me reluctant to say too much about any good news, though.K.M.Lockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540392557430776265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-7226714559279656222013-02-06T08:47:30.826+00:002013-02-06T08:47:30.826+00:00Fascinating post. It has made me think a lot and I...Fascinating post. It has made me think a lot and I still know that I am not confident enough to self publish. I need that publisher to validate my writing. I think that says more about me than anything else though.Ness Harbourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07370427313780759711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-51179452046010502602013-02-06T08:42:13.574+00:002013-02-06T08:42:13.574+00:00Great post, Candy!Great post, Candy!A. Colleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13626402785266163594noreply@blogger.com