From Bruce Coville, author: “Craft without inspiration leads to basket weaving. Inspiration without craft leads to modern art. You may like modern art, but you don’t want your book to read like it was written by Jackson Pollock.”
From Jerry Pinkney, author/illustrator: “I always start with a pencil drawing and layer it with water color.”
From Donna Jo Napoli, author: “Your biggest job [as an author] is to make the reader trust you.”
On increasing tension: “Tighten the screws but maintain your authority as a truth teller.”
From Julie Strauss-Gabel, VP and Publisher of Dutton Children’s Books, on social media: Remain “genuine in terms of who you are and do what captures your marketing voice.”
Jamie Weiss Chilton, agent, Andrea Brown Literary Agency on the nonfiction market: Rejection for nonfiction manuscripts can be classified into four categories–“1. an unknown historical figure; 2. the topic doesn’t appeal to a broad enough audience; 3. the manuscript lacks a curriculum connection or a strong promotional tie-in; 4. similar titles have not sold well either at this house or other houses.”
Emma Dryden, editorial consultant, the new digital landscape of publishing: “Apple is interested in [acquiring] Barnes & Noble.”
Stay tuned for more tomorrow…
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