After my post yesterday about knowing when to unplug, and wanting to keep up with all the online conversations, I totally got sucked in to the conversation about the cover for Justine Larbalestier’s forthcoming book, Liar.
The Publishers Weekly article, Justine’s report, Chasing Ray opinion, E. Lockhart’s two cents
There is a lot of outrage, and I think for good reason. Though, some of the comments floating around the o’sphere indicate a belief that the publisher is evil, bad, calculating, etc. Here’s what I think: it’s not like editors and marketing people are monsters. I have met a lot of people in children’s publishing over the last few years, and almost to a (wo)man, they are great, smart, hardworking, passionate people who wants to get books into readers’ hands and to be able to keep doing that by staying in business. I think this was simply a bad decision symptomatic of a larger, mostly hidden problem that we need to talk about and it’s good we are doing so. Being the clueless raised-in-diverse-and-liberal-SF white girl that I am, I had no idea, personally, about the belief that black people on covers don’t sell (or inside picture books – read E. Lockhart’s post). I’ve always been a little naive about racism and racial bias. In the soil I grew out of, it didn’t seem come up much.
Aside from the bigger implications, the cover story itself is yet another reminder of how little we as authors can control* about our jobs. The only part we can totally control (to the extent that we can control it) is the writing, and making it the absolute best we can. And by all accounts, Justine has done her job and written a brilliant book. Seriously, I have heard nothing but raves, and I can’t wait to read it. I wouldn’t want that to get lost in the scuffle. No author wants a controversy to overshadow the hard work on her baby.
*…which is not an excuse to not fight for things that should be fought for. But sometimes, you lose.
P.S. Here is the cover I mentioned in my comment on Justine’s post—a cover that made me pick up the book in the first place, when I was just browsing my local store. I bought it based on the cover. I can’t imagine I’m the only reader/book buyer in the world that is drawn to covers that have people on them who are not like me.
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10 comments for this post
Sara, thanks for sharing Acting book. I read and enjoyed Winston’s other novel Kayla. Its a very nice cover. I’ve add it to my tbr.
I don’t think publishers are bad. Though I do think they take on the roll of the bad guy because they must someone has to. Yes, writing is an art and beautiful but its still a business.
At the same time publishers should begin to own up to the how they treat authors of color or books featuring poc. When publishers don’t invest in promoting these books or placing poc on cover they are feeding into the self fulfilling prophecy that Brown don’t sell.
Sara Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
@Doret, Well said.
Hi Sara,
Thanks for this and thanks for mentioning us.
Sara Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
@susan, Hopefully one positive outcome of all this is that more people are introduced to some great blogs like yours.
I really liked your post! I agree this problem (black covers don’t sell) does need to be talked about, but it isn’t really. Not on the YA book blogs. Where it needs to be. Although it’s great that adults and authors are blogging about this, the books are mostly marketed to teens and their voices need to be heard on this issue.
Also I read Acting and loved it. I’ve read Winston’s other book (the Kayla Chronicles) and I loved that one too!
Sara Reply:
July 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
@MissAttitude, Thank you – your blog is GREAT! I just edited my post to add the link. This has all been really good for me…like I said I’ve been kind of clueless. It did not even occur to me there were YA blogs specifically for/by teens of color.
(By the way, my editor also did Kayla Chronicles! And that is another great cover…)
Sara,
There weren’t YA blogs specifically written by teens of color. Ari and Tashi are trailblazers. And I get to ride along. Color Online focuses on lit by and about women of color but we aren’t YA only. I run a library at a local nonprofit and our blog is an outgrowth of my work with that real life group. Color Online is more a bunch of women who are committed to mentoring young women and literature is our foundation.
A little confusing, I know. But it’s all good as we like to say. Come by. We love talking with authors and if you’re about girl power, we definitely want you at our house.
Best,
Susan
Dear Mrs.Sara Zarr,
I’m a student of high school in Viet Nam. I live in a small village, so my English is not good. I write this comment after reading your novel : “ SWEET HEARTS”. I verry like it, it is a great book. SWEET HEARTS brought much thinking for me. I always wish I have a beautiful felling as Jena and Cameron – lean and frank. Although the East’s cultural and the West’s cultural is not like, SWEET HEARTS is also received anh loved by Vietnamese people – as me.
I wish you always happy, healthy and have many great novel for reader. I very happy if you answer my comment. My email: “Juliet_juliet_uyt@yahoo.com”
sara z. Reply:
August 8th, 2009 at 11:03 am
@uyen thi, Thank you, so much Uyen Thi! I knew that the book was published in Vietnam but hadn’t heard from any readers yet. It’s exciting to think about it being read in other countries, and that the emotions cross cultural barriers.
you may not know, but this book has been introduced in a program in Vietnam, here is a program many young people preferred, including me. I also learned it through this program and the introduction that I did enjoy reading it and find. And I think there are also many young people in Vietnam like “SWEET HEARTS”
GOOD LUCK