Episode #52: Publishing News
Welcome back! The Book Friends have some exciting news to share about what’s happening in their lives as well as discussing some very hot topics in the world of publishing news. Learn about the novel that even Oprah was criticized for because she promoted it in her book club!
But first…“how have you been?”
Alvina’s parents and a few other family members are on board Diamond Princess Cruise ship that has been quarantined due to an outbreak of the coronavirus on board. She has been in contact with her parents and it seems that they are doing fine but it is very nerve racking. Luckily her parents have been good natured and are keeping a light sense of humor about it. Stay tuned!
In professional happenings, Alvina just returned from the SCBWI conference in New York where she was on a panel and also gave a workshop on “Writing Responsible Representation”. Another big thing going on in her life, it was announced in Publisher’s Weekly that her company, Hachette Book Group purchased over 1,000 Disney Book Group titles. There were some restrictions in communication by Disney so it was very interesting for some to hear about this news in a PW article.
Grace just got back from a fun weekend in Boston where she held a book launch at Porter Square Books for her latest novel, Mulan: Before The Sword. She loves the trips to Boston because it gives her an opportunity to visit old friends and keep those connections.
Mulan book signing at Porter Square Books!
Grace is so thankful for the turn-out at her book launch party!
They also poked around in a few museums while she was there. They went to the Peabody Essex Museum and saw the Yin Yu Tang exhibit and also checked out the Yayoi Kusama: Love is Calling exhibit at the ICA. One of Grace’s New Year’s resolutions was to try and visit more museums! It was fun to expose her daughter to both traditional and contemporary art.
“Love is Calling” exhibit at the ICA.
Publishing news!
Grace and Alvina break down three big publishing topics in the media lately.
The Disney Book Group news! How does this effect authors and editors? Alvina explores the pros and cons of this purchase and discusses how it hasn’t necessarily changed the culture at work.
American Dirt: There is a great deal of controversy about the seven-figure advance the author received for this book, the way it was written, and how it was marketed. Alvina talks about the inaccuracies, the marketing, Oprah’s book club pick, and some of the other drama surrounding the novel about a Mexican woman fleeing into the US with her son.
Barnes & Noble Backlash!: “Literary Blackface” accusations arise from Barnes & Nobel’s “Diverse Editions” series where they printed 42 covers across 12 classic books recasting lead characters as people of color. It was created to raise awareness during Black History Month but it turned out to be completely insulting and tone deaf. As Grace reminds us, “Race is so much more than the color of your skin”. Will people learn from these mistakes? The Book Friends are hopeful lessons will be learned from these controversies.
“What are you grateful for?”
As usual, the book friends forever talk about what they are grateful for this week. Alvina is thankful for family who are supportive and communicating well with updates on the cruise ship debacle. Grace is incredibly grateful for her readers and fans that come to her book launch parties. She is always nervous that nobody will show up. However, it has always been a great turn-out.
2-Minute Book Review-by Alison Morris
From The Desk of Zoe Washington- by Janae Marks.
“Think of this as the kids equivalent of the Serial Podcast for kids. They will find this just as captivating.”
Alison Morris is a nationally recognized children's book buyer with an infectious enthusiasm for reading and 20 years' experience matching books to readers. As the Senior Director of Title Selection for nonprofit First Book, she oversees the curation of children’s and young adult books on the First Book Marketplace, hand-selecting a diverse range of titles that speak to and address the needs of kids in underserved communities, with a keen eye to inclusion, authenticity, and kid-appeal. She previously served as Senior Editor at Scholastic Book Clubs, Children's Book Buyer for Wellesley Booksmith and The Dartmouth Bookstore, and was the founding blogger of the ShelfTalker children’s book blog for Publishers Weekly. She'll be joining us from her home near Washington, DC where she spends LOTS of time discussing books with her husband, illustrator and graphic novelist Gareth Hinds.
Books and other media mentioned in this podcast:
