tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post1448809068452312997..comments2024-01-10T17:38:08.333-05:00Comments on Elizabeth Burns: Readers ChoiceLiz Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-8278849514591306172009-08-20T12:03:12.510-04:002009-08-20T12:03:12.510-04:00Like independent bookstores, independent publisher...Like independent bookstores, independent publishers such as Flux and Curbstone exist to publish the kinds of books that mainstream editors and agents would consider unmarketable--until proven otherwise. Who would have thought that Gringolandia, a somewhat challenging novel set years ago in a small, faraway country and written by an unknown author would have gotten this far? But it was a finalist at JLG and received great reviews from Kirkus, SLJ, Booklist, ALAN Review, VOYA, and many other places. <br /><br />I appreciate everyone who took a risk on Gringolandia, from the indie publisher that bought it even though my previous novel with them flopped spectacularly to Liz B, who was the very first to review Gringolandia. And I'm concerned that any judging based on access and popularity will further disadvantage independent publishers and prevent unusual or special interest titles from getting any traction whatsoever. The resultant loss of diverse perspectives would be devastating.Lyn Miller-Lachmannhttp://web.mac.com/lynmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-27391481691937223032009-08-03T11:03:17.530-04:002009-08-03T11:03:17.530-04:00I'm way way late to this discussion but as I w...I'm way way late to this discussion but as I was looking at the numbers (and feeling slightly overwhelmed by them), I tried to figure out why it would be that FHT was in a lot of libraries and wondered if it being Junior Library Guild might be making a difference there? I know it's not really relevant to the point you're making (which is an excellent point) about access to the books for judging. But it does make me wonder how something like JLG impacts those type of numbers.Carrie Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16198867176033112742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-65540754052782212072009-07-22T22:11:50.063-04:002009-07-22T22:11:50.063-04:00Thanks, Liz!
I'm with you there on Flygirl. I...Thanks, Liz!<br /><br />I'm with you there on Flygirl. I sort of feel like libraries should not look the same as the chain bookstores -- you should be able to walk into a library and see fantastic titles highlighted other than those getting chain endcaps. And because Flygirl isn't getting a ton of chain love, it's not getting library love. I mean, this may not be true -- I'm totally working on conjecture here -- but in the libraries I've been in recently, it certainly feels true.<br /><br />Librarians: listen to other librarians!!<br /><br />Plus, it doesn't help that Flygirl is not the current trifecta of doom: paranoramal + kissing + contemporary.Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842527558335640093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-1389455402205193112009-07-22T22:03:51.526-04:002009-07-22T22:03:51.526-04:00Maggie,
What surprised me most was Flygirl. They ...Maggie,<br /><br />What surprised me most was Flygirl. They promoted it; reviewers such sa myself got copies. It was also on the cover of Booklist; it was on a Top 10 List from Booklist already. SLJ, Voya, PW reviewed it; KIRKUS even liked it! At this point, it really should have higher numbers.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to reading Shiver!<br /><br />LizLiz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-2155286322343248562009-07-22T21:50:01.717-04:002009-07-22T21:50:01.717-04:00I love the numbers of this post -- it's hard t...I love the numbers of this post -- it's hard to argue with them. I agree with you 100%. My debut, LAMENT, came out last October from Flux, a smaller imprint -- right now it has 116 reviews and 501 people marking it to-read on Goodreads. SHIVER, my second book, is a lead title at Scholastic, and has 64 reviews and 823 people marking it to-read on Goodreads, and it's only coming out on August 1st. Lest we think it's a debut/ non-debut thing, my next book from Flux, BALLAD, is coming out in October and has 6 reviews and 226 people marking it to-read.<br /><br />The number of people who know about SHIVER versus LAMENT or BALLAD is absolutely stunning. All other things being equal -- i.e., the writer -- in a popular choice list, SHIVER would have a far better chance of getting on BBYA. And that's just doing those who rely on BBYA a massive disservice. <br /><br />Thanks for this great post -- the Worldcat numbers really do speak volumes.Maggie Stiefvaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842527558335640093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-5990062402981285302009-07-21T01:10:55.404-04:002009-07-21T01:10:55.404-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Kids Furniturehttp://www.infofurnitureminer.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-44261289358308606212009-07-20T15:22:13.089-04:002009-07-20T15:22:13.089-04:00Very good point about the books Gringolandia and F...Very good point about the books Gringolandia and Flygirl. I hope that the issue is given some attention by the YALSA so that a fair and well-balanced decision is made .... in the interest of children's books and those hidden gems of books that aren't yet household names, you definitely want to check out "Danny the Dragon Meets Jimmy" - www.DannytheDragon.com - worth a read.Children's books fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01228147234171968268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-7895215507586219772009-07-20T09:11:13.740-04:002009-07-20T09:11:13.740-04:00Liz,
Thanks for posting this well-made point. I ...Liz,<br /><br />Thanks for posting this well-made point. I think you articulate a concern that has been overlooked - access doesn't seem to have come up much in the conversations, and is an important consideration. In my area, we're fortunate enough to have both excellent public libraries and several university libraries, but I suspect if I drove an hour west or east from here, things would be very different.Kimberly @ lectitanshttp://lectitans.livejournal.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-7793972423790510902009-07-19T15:15:02.881-04:002009-07-19T15:15:02.881-04:00Elaine, it's my understanding that BBYA will n...Elaine, it's my understanding that BBYA will not be phased out. What is being looked at is either revising the scope of books covered or the method of nomination/discussion, both with an eye to narrow down total titles read so that the workload isn't overwhelming.Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-46422985805661241642009-07-19T11:20:01.044-04:002009-07-19T11:20:01.044-04:00Excellent point, Liz. As far as I can see the Read...Excellent point, Liz. As far as I can see the Reader's Choice list and the BBYA list would actually serve two completely different purposes. It would be great to involve many YA librarians from across the country in a virtual discussion of admirable books that are popular at their library, and this discussion could lead to a very interesting Reader's Choice list. But many of these librarians would never see ARCs from smaller publishers and would not be able to read and become enthusiastic about titles like Gringolandia or Flygirl, so those books would languish under the radar. If the BBYA list were retained in addition to the Reader's Choice list, then Committe members would have a chance to consider titles like these, and expose them to librarians who aren't able to travel to the annual convention - a big expense for many small libraries. Why must it be an either-or choice? Wouldn't both serve YALSA members - and readers and authors - best?Elaine Marie Alphinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12130116746072382940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-66397602661935167092009-07-19T10:03:50.021-04:002009-07-19T10:03:50.021-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-77015411407070093922009-07-19T09:38:47.352-04:002009-07-19T09:38:47.352-04:00I think it's working fine -- here is the link ...I think it's working fine -- here is the link again:<br /><br />http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Board_of_Directors_09_Feedback_PageLiz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-1771538979367577462009-07-19T09:32:00.296-04:002009-07-19T09:32:00.296-04:00Okay why do you think that isn't working?
h...Okay why do you think that isn't working?<br /> <br /><br />http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/<br />Board_of_Directors_09_Feedback_Pagelisavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04382306661619189569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-60498781393626122112009-07-19T09:29:30.517-04:002009-07-19T09:29:30.517-04:00http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Board_of_Dire...http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Board_of_Directors_09_Feedback_Page<br /><br />it was cut off. try thislisavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04382306661619189569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-72824038173950518312009-07-19T09:28:24.901-04:002009-07-19T09:28:24.901-04:00I just remembered in my ALA fatigue that I had pos...I just remembered in my ALA fatigue that I had posted to the YALSA Board WIKI. It was not easy to find and has only 5 comments on it even though there seemed to be a groundswell of opinion at the conference.<br />http://wikis.ala.org/yalsa/index.php/Board_of_Directors_09_Feedback_Page\<br /><br />Lisavlisavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04382306661619189569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-21952371477606023902009-07-18T22:59:13.298-04:002009-07-18T22:59:13.298-04:00Angie, I hope you do comment!! And if I really had...Angie, I hope you do comment!! And if I really had the time, I'd have done the analysis for all the BBYA & other list nominations, b/c I think that would also have been interesting, esp to compare the stats now and then, say, six months after BBYA.<br /><br />(Oh god. I am going to do that...I'm that type of obsessive.)Liz Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16671844475303001610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-32379256058361915292009-07-18T22:54:15.074-04:002009-07-18T22:54:15.074-04:00Well, you know where I stand after our discussion ...Well, you know where I stand after our discussion post committee meeting. I am getting ready to venture into the comments at the YALSA post, but let me say, I find the use of "elitism" here quite interesting. <br /><br />Thanks for this, and for doing the numbers crunching about it.Angie Manfredihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02301039817054638181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-36046181793385683052009-07-18T21:15:09.478-04:002009-07-18T21:15:09.478-04:00Elizabeth B.!!!!
I was at the YALSA Board meeting ...Elizabeth B.!!!!<br />I was at the YALSA Board meeting and was permitted to speak on the sunsetting of the BBYA list. I wish I had your post with me. You said exactly what I was trying to say but far more articulately. Lisa Vlisavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04382306661619189569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12461652.post-40036785270835518442009-07-18T21:09:05.292-04:002009-07-18T21:09:05.292-04:00Thank you so much for you thoughtful, informative ...Thank you so much for you thoughtful, informative posts. It is distressing to see the direction the publishing industry, booksellers, and now libraries seem to be heading in. Every mom I know wants her children to read (in addition to being entertained) to expand the scope of their knowledge base and learn about perspectives and experiences other than the slim slice depicted on television and mass media.<br /><br />These lists are important and make a difference for quieter books. They help generate sales and industry buzz, and provide much needed exposure -- exposure that most publishers are no longer offering for mid-listers.<br /><br />I am very, very sad about this.<br /><br />Thank you, again, for sharing your thoughts and impressions.Maya Spivaknoreply@blogger.com