This was a webinar presented by Write for kids, an interview of Emma Dryden:
– How can authors keep abreast of future change and how to prepare.
– embracerace.org
– At the beginning of COVID 19 patients were looking for resources for kids for schooling kids at home.
– Black lives matter is a new influence on the publishing market.
– Publisher’s Review on COVID -19 impact listing: bit.ly/pwcovid19impactlisting.
– SCBWI’s black lives matter organization and resources: hpps://www.scrbi.org/black-lives-matter-resources/
– kitlit411 – the weekly 411 newsletter bit.lw/kidlit411june5
– CCBC’s “publishing statistics on children’s/YA book about people of color and First/Native Nations and by people of color and First/Native Nations Authors and illustrators”. (Shows POC publishing info) last updated on Nov 2019. https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/books/pstats.asp
– Looking at Publishers Weekly on pg. 4 talked about Editor Kymon Carp taking over on Simon and Schuster. Past editor passed away. As for the pandemic books, sales have not dropped much. The center has held.
– pg. 5 article, authors’ fight for diversity.
– Getting more POC material needs to come from the top down.
– Q: do you think changes will come from the bottom from the small press?
– A: Emma suspects that publishers paying should be paying attention on twitter from people of color.
– The publishing industry is paying attention to publishing around the world.
– Talking to other publishers and editors. – Many felt that the audience for People of Color books was not large. Maybe since 1980. Emma says it has started to change but that option is wrong.
– Q: suggest to African American authors: submit your work. Raise your voice. Be involved in twitter. Some agents opening to African Americans for the month of June. Query agents
– Q: What are editors and agents doing during COVID 19> still working from home. Many will not let their staff back into the office until Sept. There is no reason to not proceed. If your work is not ready, get it ready. Therese room for everyone. Submit professional. And be patient in terms to your craft. If you see opportunities, take them.
– Q: will CV 19 influence published books and advanced. Some publishers downgrading advances due to cash problems.
– The big advances may not relate to the ‘normal’ authors’.
– Advances used to be going out in halves. Payments are starting to go in thirds. 1/2 signing. 2. Payment when published. 3rd is later.
– Now getting payment sign, delivery, third. And 4 publications.
– She does not expect Simon and Schuler’s or Random are going under. Maybe see some restructuring and layoffs. These changes were done a long time before COVID. Emma things they will still publish books.
Other websites:
– Kidslit4blacklives rally youtube
– http://writeforkids.org/social
– www.kobo.com/us/en/writinglife> self-publishing offers new library options.
– www.barnesandnobleinc.com/our-stores-communities/summer-reading-program/ Complete list of the best books they’re publishing.
