Mitali Perkins's Blog, page 39

Tips on Selling "Multicultural" Kid/YA Books

I posed this question last week here on the Fire Escape before enjoying a long conversation about the topic with Delacorte editors, Random House sales reps, and several stellar indie booksellers.



Based on that chat and some great comments, here are some practical ideas and encouragement for and from booksellers eager to sell books featuring non-white characters. Thanks to everybody who chimed in, and if you leave other helpful suggestions in the comments, I'll add them to the list.

A...

BAMBOO PEOPLE Book Launch Party!

A thousand thanks to Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Ma and to my publisher Charlesbridge for hosting my Bamboo People book launch party. I always get nervous, so I greatly appreciated everybody who came and sent notes of encouragement from near and far. I've posted a few videos below, and here are some recaps from others who attended:



Charlesbridge Not Just For Kids Britt Leigh's Brain on Books  The Papa Post



Arrived to find this gorgeous bamboo plant sent from Portland, Maine by

Ideas For Indies Who Want to Sell Multicultural Titles?

Random House has kindly arranged a brainstorm meeting tomorrow by phone for some of their staff, several great independent booksellers who want to sell "multicultural" children's and YA titles, and me.



I'm excited and a bit nervous. Seven or eight years ago, I couldn't have imagined being a part of such a conversation. In anticipation, I tweeted this yesterday:



"Chatting this Thursday with some great indies about how to sell books like mine—i.e., lacking paranormality, cleavage, white peop...

Hither, Thither, and Yon

I'm happy to share several recent interviews where I've spouted off on this and that:

Boston Globe


PaperTigers
Spilling Ink
YA Bookshelf
Young Adult Review Network
I've also updated my list of reviews of Bamboo People with much gratitude, hoping to shine a light on Burma, because "in the ethnic areas there is suffering on a biblical scale, in every way comparable to Darfur." ( Partners Relief )



And if you're in the Boston area, there's still time to plan to come to the launch party

First Prize Fire Escape Poetry Contest 2010

I'm delighted to present the first prize winner in the Fire Escape's Eighth Annual Poetry Contest for teens between cultures.



CITY IN THE EAST AND CITY IN THE WEST was written by Mirette, who was born in Egypt. "The hardest thing about balancing two cultures is trying to be loyal to both of them simultaneously," she says. "It's hard to follow the traditions of two different cultures as they sometimes contradict each other. The best thing about being an immigrant is definitely the food--noth...

Tigers and Frangipani: Oh, My!

We saw old friends during our two weeks in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but also made a new friend or two.



Here's the view of the Ping River from the old Thai house where I wrote the first draft of Bamboo People . Used to also be able to see Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's signature mountain.

I love bamboo ...

Floating flower arrangements reminded me of Alpana art.



Fragrant frangipani in the rain.

Come visit me on the Fire Escape!

Chiang Mai, Here I Come!

We're heading back to Chiang Mai, Thailand for a wedding (thank you, frequent flyer miles!) and to visit friends. I also plan to deliver copies of Bamboo People to those I acknowledge in the novel. Might try to vlog a bit, but we'll see. Enjoy the first half of August. I'll be back on the Fire Escape before my book launch party . Peace be with you.

Come visit me on the Fire Escape!

Thanks, But It's Not Historical Fiction

One of the problems with gargantuan, impersonal booksellers is that the person who classified a novel hasn't usually read it.



Amazon.com, for example, put my novel BAMBOO PEOPLE in this category: "Books > Teens > History & Historical Fiction > Historical Fiction." Meanwhile, the product description says, "This coming-of-age novel takes place against the political and military backdrop of modern-day Burma."



It's a small but strange mistake.



And the behemoth isn't alone. I've noticed this ...

You've Been Berry Berry Good To Bamboo People!

When you write a book that isn't a gothic-zombie-romantic-thriller-optioned-for-a-movie-before-pub-date kind of novel, you count on many, many advocates to spread the news so that young people can discover your story. That's why I'm eternally grateful to the bloggers and reviewers who have recommended Bamboo People (Charlesbridge, July 2010):



Aaron's Books 

A Chair, A Fireplace, A Tea Cozy

A Foodie Bibliophile in Wanderlust

Albany Times-Union

Amy Reads

Asian Review of Books

Becky's Book...

A Chat with Holly Cupala, author of TELL ME A SECRET

It's a joy to discover a YA novel in which an author has introduced a diversity of characters thoughtfully and proactively. TELL ME A SECRET (HarperCollins)—a tenderly told bildungsroman about forgiveness in a Seattle family defined by secrets and grief—fits the bill.



Today I'm delighted to host the author of this brilliant debut novel, readergirlz diva and superb storyteller Holly Cupala , on her whirlwind blog tour .



Namaste, Holly! So glad to have you here on the Fire Escape! Let's start...