Peter Taylor - Once a Creepy Crocodile launched by Five Mile Press's publisher, Karen Tayleur.
Delegates joined in singing Peter's new picture book - Once a Creepy Crocodile to the music of Once a Jolly Swagman. Winner of the loudest singer award (Peter's book and 'plushie' crocodile) was Dianne Wolfer from WA.
MORE IMAGES STILL TO COME...
Gabriel Evans - A New Pet (Five Mile Press) launched by Karen Tayleur.
Wendy Binks - 10 Clumsy Emus (Scholastic) launched by Clare Hallifax.
Roving Reporter: Sarah Mounsey
Panel: Frances Plumpton, Connie Hsu, Nerilee Weir Moderator: Frane Lessac
image: Lesley Vamos
In this interesting session three industry professionals shared their knowledge about Australian books crossing over into the International Market. In a nutshell, it is very, very difficult! Most of us know the joys and challenges of the children’s book market and this appears to be one of the big challenges. So for those who have experienced the joy of being published here in Australia the next big challenge is how to cross over into the international book market?
The first speaker was Nerilee Weir, the rights manager at Random House Australia. Nerilee spoke about how she travels internationally trying to sell rights to International Agents and Publishers. She works directly with agents and sub agents. So what types of books sell internationally
There is no single type and the results can be surprising. Sometimes a book sells in only one territory, at other times in many countries and often they do not sell anywhere at all. She explained that there was no rhyme or reason to what sells and each country can fluctuate a lot. She used Germany as an example. At the moment Germany is booming but previously for five years she was unable to sell anything there and prior to that it was also booming. She also mentioned what is in demand changes regularly and at present middle grade is most in demand.
Frances Plumpton spoke next. Frances has had a long career as a children's librarian and Literary Agent and is the ARA for New Zealand SCBWI. She set up her own agency, Frances Plumpton Literary Agency in 2012. Frances spoke about a typical experience as an agent at the Bologna Book Fair and the challenges an agent has trying to sell international rights. She explained that over the four days she has about twenty-four half hour appointments.
She generated many laughs form the audience when she shared many of the reasons picture books were rejected by different countries. These included “too wordy, too racy, too local, too horsey and no pirates!” Other reasons included that the illustrations were unsuitable, that wordless picture books were not liked and that a message in the story was required. They wanted more realistic artwork and the reasons from different countries went on and on! She mentioned that award winners were always of interest and also that it was very important to know the territorial rights for each book.
The final speaker was Connie Hsu, the senior editor at Roaring Brook Press in the USA. Interestingly Connie and Nerilee have worked together on the sale of two books, Moonshadow by Simon Higgins and Nanny Piggins by R.A. Spratt so at least they could share that it is possible to sell international rights out of Australia! Connie talked about the key reasons why the USA market is reluctant to publish books by authors from other countries.
The biggest hindrance being the distance between the countries and the expense of bringing an author from Australia to the USA for events. The other main challenge is the expense of editing a book so as to ‘Americanise’ it. Connie discussed how picture books were extremely challenging to buy and that it is more likely that middle grade and YA would be bought. She has actually reviewed over two hundred Australian picture books and has not bought one! However she stated for the right fit it would be worth it.
So in summary these three professionals shared an insightful and realistic view of how to get into the International Market. It is possible but almost impossible! #SCBWIAusNZ14
Roving Reporter: Pamela Rushby
Laura Harris and Melina Marchetta
Perched up high on barstools (and thus beautifully visible), Laura Harris drew fascinating information about novel to film adaptation from world-renowned novelist Melina Marchetta - and we discovered The Jellicoe Road can indeed be a rocky one.
Melina had already adapted her novel "Looking for Allibrandi" for film in 2000. She's currently working on the script for "On the Jellicoe Road".
Scriptwriting is a different ballgame from writing a novel. You're going from solitary writing to working with a committee. The collaborative element can be enjoyable. Working with a producer and director, you have the luxury of talking about your project all day, without anyone's eyes glazing over!
So much has to go. First, the character's voice disappears. Then, you have to cut 300 pages of print to 90 minutes of screen time.
With a script, you're constantly being told what's wrong with it, not what's right with it.
It was very helpful that Melina thinks "in pictures" - she'd seen the story unfold as a film in her head. But she'd also taken short courses in scriptwriting. She believes this made her a better prose writer. But, most of her "education" in scriptwriting came from interaction with the director.
Scriptwriting is a huge collaborative process, and many things change along the way After 4 years' work, many things changed because someone pointed out the protagonist wasn't "angry" enough.
Funding is always a problem. The film has a large budget (for Australia). Pre-production may start at the end of this year for next year - depending on available funding. #SCBWIAusNZ14
