Mitali Perkins's Blog, page 55

Celebrating Book Birthdays on Twitter

We're going through some "readjustments" in the book industry, right? Well, we can't let that stop us from celebrating milestones and accomplishments. The release of a new book is definitely something to commemorate. Each story winging out into the world deserves a communal "HURRAH!"

Authors and illustrators, if you're on twitter and have written or illustrated a traditionally published book for children or teens releasing this summer or fall, send me the title, house, release date, and genre and

Poll Results: Amending Classic Children's Books

Last week, I asked visitors to the Fire Escape when, if ever, it would be okay to update a classic children's book to reflect changing mores about race. The results (152 votes) were almost equally split between those who thought some changes might be in order, while the rest arguing that a book must stand as is.

Slightly more than half of you (83 votes, or 54%) said never.

Among those who felt it might be worth it to change a classic book, we see a strong belief that an author alone retains the ri

Race, Caste, and Class in HUNGER GAMES

Yesterday I asked you how you pictured the characters in Suzanne Collins' bestselling novel THE HUNGER GAMES. Well, here's what I noticed about race, culture, and class in this enthralling story.

Early on we're informed that families in the Seam who work the mines have olive skin, dark hair, and gray eyes. Notice that their eyes aren't brown, which means they aren't Middle Eastern, Hispanic, or South Asian.

Right after that sentence, Collins writes that Katniss' mother and Prim have light hair and

Race in Suzanne Collins' HUNGER GAMES

Every now and then, I'm going to pose a 12-second video question about a YA or children's book I've just finished reading. I want to listen to you before I post my own answer, so please leave your thoughts in the comments. Let's start with Suzanne Collins' gripping dystopian novel, HUNGER GAMES (Scholastic):


Race in Suzanne Collins' HUNGER GAMES on 12seconds.tv

Come visit me on the Fire Escape![image error]

Virtual Author Branding: Five Tips

This isn't your mother's publishing industry. These days, we authors sound more like musicians who have long worried about "generating a brand" and "developing a fan base."

Since I've been blogging and micro-blogging (mostly on Twitter and Facebook) for a while, my writing buddies sometimes ask for tips. Here are five basics to keep in mind as you venture into the virtual world to sell your books.

1. Pursue excellence.

Quit whining about publicists or the lack thereof. These days, an author must ta

Bowlderizing Children's Books: A Poll

Should publishers edit beloved children's books like LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE or THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA to eliminate racial or ethnic stereotyping? When (if ever) is it okay? Please vote in the poll in my sidebar and/or comment below.

It's okay to update a classic children's book to reflect changing mores ...
if the changes made are incidental rather than integral to the plot (see these changes made to Robert Lawson's Caldecott-winning THEY WERE STRONG AND GOOD, for example).

if the publisher

A Writer's Day in Connecticut

The audience at the Greenwich Arts Council and Leslie Guegen of Just Words listened yesterday to Rachel Vail (GORGEOUS/Harper Collins) and me (SECRET KEEPER/Random House) share tips about writing books for kids and teens.

A no-duh takeaway for authors (including me) from the talented, funny, and practical Rachel: use a separate credit card for writing expenses to manage your business easily.

Award-winning Connecticut author Sarah Darer Littman (PURGE/Scholastic) attended our session to show some a

Massachusetts Book Awards

The Massachusetts Center for the Book recommends children's/YA books published in 2008 by Massachusetts authors. Full disclosure: I'm on the list. Winners of the Book Awards will be announced shortly.

Picture Books

As Good as Anybody by Richard Michelson. (Knopf) Lessons from the parallel upbringings of Martin Luther King and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel culminate in their 1965 march together against discrimination, from Selma to Montgomery.

One Hen by Kate Smith Milway. (Kids Can Press) The

An Agent Talks Trends in MG/YA Publishing

At our Boston Bookish Tweetup on Sunday, literary agent Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency reflected on the current and future state of Middle Grade (MG) and Young Adult (YA) books. Lauren kindly gave me permission to post some notes here. If other agents, editors, or teen and tween experts want to chime in, feel free to add your comments.

What's in her slush pile:
A ton of romance.
Lots of books chasing TWILIGHT.Ghosts, vampires, witches, werewolves, the supernatural in general.
Historical fict

Boston Bookish Schmooze

Hinting at a future of low-cost regional gatherings, a group of bookish folk who weren't at Book Expo America connected via Twitter at Porter Square Books on Sunday 5/31 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

We exchanged books and social media tips, made new connections, and enjoyed the cozy ambience of one of the finest independent booksellers in the Boston area.

One of the organizers, agent Lauren MacLeod of the Strothman Agency (@BostonBookGirl), shared some interesting findings on trends in Middle Grad