Just How White Is Publishing?
Bearded dslr photographer with tattooes on his arms over school desk background.
So very, very, white.
This article from the New York Times is worth reading in its entirety, but to sum up a few key points: Of fiction books published by one of the large houses between 1950-2018, the author’s race/ethnicity could be identified for 7124 books. 95% of those were written by white people. In 2018, 11% of the books in the sample were written by authors of color. According to a 2019 survey, 85% of the people who acquire and edit books are white.
It’s not a perfect study (the authors of the article freely admit) because nobody actually tracks this stuff. How many books this year were written by African-Americans? How many last year were by Latnix writers? Nobody knows. Nobody’s counting.
I particularly appreciate that this article points up the whiteness of the editorial profession as one of the roadblocks to publishing book by writers of color. (Unmentioned is the fact that publishing is so poorly paid…if you want to start out as an editorial assistant, it helps immensely to have no student loans or family who can give you a boost when it comes to renting a studio in New York. And of course there’s a correlation with race.) I also appreciate calling the tendency of publishers to underpay non-white authors and illustrators (although, to be frank, I’m reeling at the advances some writers of adult books get.)
It’s a valuable article. Go read it.
And I’ll add one thought of my own: the article looks at authors (they forgot illustrators, but there you go…a lot of people, when writing about publishing, forget the younger end of things), editors, publishers…but they didn’t mention readers.
Readers have been eating up books by authors of color–Stamped, The Hate U Give, Booked, All-American Boys, and I could go on. If you’re reading this? Don’t stop. If the demand for these books stays high, publishers will keep buying them, and they may start paying the creators what they are worth.
(Oh, and for the record: $10,000 for A Pandemic Is Worldwide, $14,000 for Deadly Wish, $7000 for Brown Is Warm, Black Is Bright. #publishing paidme)
Read MoreMore Wombat Art
Another adorable sketch of Wombat for the upcoming Wombat Underground by the hugely talented Charles Santoso. This is pure essence of Wombat–dig, dig, dig!
Wombat Art!
So excited to see some sample art from the talented Charles Santoso for WOMBAT UNDERGROUND. Love the richness of the colors and the contrast between under- and aboveground!
That Night: A Spooky Halloween Story
photo by Igor Tigor
Here’s a chilling little tidbit for your Halloween Eve.
Read MoreI woke up in bed and I had to pee.
You know how it is. You lie there for a while, thinking you don’t really have to go that badly. You try to brace yourself for the rush of chilly air that envelops you once you throw the covers back. The slap of cold against the sole of each bare foot when you set it on the floor.
But I couldn’t hold out forever. Finally I forced myself out of bed and hurried to the bathroom. I didn’t even turn on the light.
When I was done, I felt my way along the dark hallway back toward my room. I heard my mom snoring. My dad rolled over in bed and sighed.
My dog brushed up against my leg. I reached down to pet him and felt the scruff of fur on the back of his neck, right where he liked to be scratched. His cold nose bumped my knee.
Back in my room, I burrowed under the covers, wrapped up in warmth again.
That was when I remembered that our dog died last summer. We buried him in the backyard under the maple tree.
So what was it that brushed up against me in the dark?
I guess I’m going to have to open the door to my room and find out. Especially since there’s a lot of noise coming from my mom and dad’s room.
All that screaming.
Taia Morley to Illustrate A PANDEMIC IS WORLDWIDE
Delighted to announce that the talented Taia Morley will be illustrating A Pandemic Is Worldwide! I love Taia’s work; it’s warm and rich and childlike. I thinks she’ll bring a nice balance to this serious topic.
Writing With Pets
Tessie thinking, “Yeah, your character development needs work in Chapter Three.”
I think all writers’ households should have pets (barring allergy issues and such). There are definitely good reasons to keep furry family members around, such as:
1) They make great, noncritical first readers, as long as you’re willing to read stuff out loud (which you should be doing anyway, since it’s a great way to catch errors or moments of awkwardness.)
2) Long walks are good for thinking out complicated plots, and dogs help with that.
3) It’s important to read a lot to keep up with the field, and cats help with that by insisting–insisting–that you settle down in the comfy armchair with a cup of tea so they can sit on your lap and purr.
4) They are good to hug after rejection letters.
So I’m pleased to announce that, as well as Karma the Puppy of Infinite Appetite, we now have a new furry family member: Tessie. She is still quite shy, but crept out of hiding this morning to sit on my lap in the comfy armchair, so I think she’s going to be great addition.
Read MoreKeith Mallett to Illustrate Brown Is Warm
Illustrator switch! Erin Robinson was on board to illustrator my upcoming picture book Brown Is Warm, Black Is Bright. Sadly, she had to drop the project.
Happily, a new illustrator has just signed on–Keith Mallett, whose glowing colors and expressive faces will bring a lot of joy and vivacity to the book. I can’t wait to see what it will look like!
Read MoreSarah L. Thomson
A children’s book author publishing award-winning nonfiction, poetry, picture books and novels including…
“Thomson focuses on newfound connection, magic, and suspense to conjure a fast-paced, heartwarming mystery. Thomson’s world is populated by resourceful protagonists, fanciful creatures, and quirky supporting characters.”
—Publishers Weekly