tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post9028692127287529371..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: Have written a fairytale. Will travel? Not always! – Katherine Roberts Mary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-72098603791253057112013-09-07T16:49:06.448+01:002013-09-07T16:49:06.448+01:00I have been warned, Sue, and will probably give th...I have been warned, Sue, and will probably give the US Dark is Rising a miss... though I do like some American movies and loved The Hunger Games!<br /><br />Interesting about your Ice Age book, Ann. I have a YA book about Genghis Khan that keeps getting turned away by British publishers and agents because it's too European/historical - your comment has inspired me to try it in the US, maybe an ebook edition at first... er, everyone's heard of Genghis Khan, right?Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-50382567104727282762013-09-07T03:53:27.980+01:002013-09-07T03:53:27.980+01:00Katherine, if you loved the Susan Cooper novel, do...Katherine, if you loved the Susan Cooper novel, don't ever see the movie. Will Stanton(pronounced Stenton with a US accent) is an American boy whose family has moved to England. The Old Ones are all idiots. His age is raised so he can be tempted ... Never mind, don't watch it.<br /><br />Actually, my bestselling book was the US edition of an education book on archaeology - around $45,000 copies so far, and it even got an enthusiastic child review online. But a week before it went to print, we got an email from the US saying we had to cut a bit about Inca child mummies because it might encourage schoolyard shootings in the US! I kid you not. My editor muttered that she needed a stiff drink.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-41031826525399644802013-09-07T00:45:00.699+01:002013-09-07T00:45:00.699+01:00Marie-Louise, I'm American and I'm sick of...Marie-Louise, I'm American and I'm sick of those movies, too. I don't even go to films anymore unless they're foreign or independent.<br /><br />We have a hit TV show here called "Vikings," so apparently we've heard of them. I can't vouch for the show's accuracy, but that never has been what TV was for.Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-30943203443502512122013-09-06T23:41:46.605+01:002013-09-06T23:41:46.605+01:00Also, judging by their films, I'd say that Am...Also, judging by their films, I'd say that Americans only like stories about Americans saving the world. Apologies to any random Americans I'm insulting here!Marie-Louise Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18006940874591015786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-89630855460816988162013-09-06T23:39:42.154+01:002013-09-06T23:39:42.154+01:00What an interesting discussion! I've enjoyed t...What an interesting discussion! I've enjoyed the post and the comments. Aside from my first book which sold to Scandinavia, I've also been told my books are 'too English'. Not only by American publishers, but by European publishers too. As for my Viking books, apparently Scandinavia 'have enough of their own' and elsewhere 'no one has ever heard of Vikings.' Hmm.Marie-Louise Jensenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18006940874591015786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-34533122532444441732013-09-06T20:47:41.450+01:002013-09-06T20:47:41.450+01:00When they turn you down they try to give you a rea...When they turn you down they try to give you a reason, but there's no rhyme or reason. I wish they'd just say, "not for me."Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-90758122348072366322013-09-06T20:11:15.830+01:002013-09-06T20:11:15.830+01:00I've just remembered that one of my books - an...I've just remembered that one of my books - an Ice Age story - was turned down by my British publisher, so I sent it to an American one, and it's been continuously in print with them since 1984 and still sells well. But I've never been able to interest a British publisher in it! Ann Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484265041343702129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-74902225992700703202013-09-06T19:00:44.937+01:002013-09-06T19:00:44.937+01:00Too French for the French! Love that.Too French for the French! Love that.Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-6289495747379278252013-09-06T17:45:04.214+01:002013-09-06T17:45:04.214+01:00I must tell you one more thing, then I'll stop...I must tell you one more thing, then I'll stop. I told my husband about our discussion. He's a screenwriter, and he once had an opportunity to pitch a script to a French producer. He'd written the story based on research he did while in France.<br /><br />The producer told him he liked it, but it was "too French."Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-90300528301069723182013-09-06T17:27:07.099+01:002013-09-06T17:27:07.099+01:00I wanted to add that I recently read "Olive K...I wanted to add that I recently read "Olive Kitteridge," American and wonderful, also "Swamplandia!," American and wonderful. So good literature exists in our writers, but perhaps new writers get less attention from the publishing industry.Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-21907300705271884052013-09-06T17:26:02.595+01:002013-09-06T17:26:02.595+01:00This is a great discussion. I enjoy reading everyt...This is a great discussion. I enjoy reading everything you've all said.<br /><br />I'm American, too, and I agree with Momma Bear. It may be generalizing - certainly the entire population here is not misogynist, some of us do like good literature, etc. But what sells the most here is Romance fiction, and I don't have to tell you what that is. Much of America retains a Puritan mentality, though I maintain much of THAT is hypocritical (considering there's often a great deal of sex in Romance fiction).<br /><br />Maybe we have ourselves to blame for the state of the publishing industry. We (as a people) are not voting on education bills. Kids come out of school knowing business but not literature. Things go in cycles. There's always a backlash. I hope the one we seek comes soon.<br /><br />By the way, Ann, I thought of the same four you did except it was really only three. I was thinking of the library at Alexandria and not the lighthouse! Thank goodness Wikipedia has a nice list.Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-791155530155644332013-09-06T17:23:52.973+01:002013-09-06T17:23:52.973+01:00And then there is the reluctance of US publishers ...And then there is the reluctance of US publishers to publish novels by UK writers set against a backdrop of American history... That's tripped me up. Lindsey Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17850020154761301724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-14002555559638252972013-09-06T17:16:40.852+01:002013-09-06T17:16:40.852+01:00I'm not sure it's that recent. I remember ...I'm not sure it's that recent. I remember being told by an American publisher back in the 1980s that one of my books was "too English". It was about family life and cats, so I assume it was the slightly different everyday detail they thought Americans wouldn't cope with! More recently my American publishers turned down Seeking Eden, the third in my Quaker trilogy, despite its being set in America, but that was because there had been a long wait for it, and the first two hadn't sold that well. So the reasons might sometimes be valid, even if disappointing for author and readers.<br /><br />I've read Dido, too, and am still here! Ann Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484265041343702129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-4038283298432848562013-09-06T16:38:30.304+01:002013-09-06T16:38:30.304+01:00"Dido" encourages suicide, Adele? Really..."Dido" encourages suicide, Adele? Really?! (I've read it and am still here - even if a bit depressed about lack of American deals for my books!)<br /><br />It's interesting to hear the views of American readers, and some of my books have sold well over there in the past (Spellfall and my Echorium trilogy), so I wonder if this bandwagon culture is a fairly recent thing?<br />Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-7072461423898518452013-09-06T16:05:54.193+01:002013-09-06T16:05:54.193+01:00What a shame....my DIDO wasn't published in th...What a shame....my DIDO wasn't published in the USA tho its forerunners, TROYnand ITHAKA did very well over there.. This is because Dido encourages suicide!! I kid you not!adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-41102497409007686602013-09-06T16:02:06.214+01:002013-09-06T16:02:06.214+01:00speaking as an american, the state of literature a...speaking as an american, the state of literature around here is shockingly banal. every one jumps on the same bandwagon once it's "popular and nothing new ever really gets read. it seems there are no new ideas in america and it is distressing. for those of us who have a clue, as always we look to europe for our books, news, movies, music because american media are boring, misogynistic and outrageously domestic. honestly we seem to be afraid of new ideas lately.<br />as i said before it's distressing.Momma Bearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03215840942640904965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-20232114192059244462013-09-06T14:46:17.570+01:002013-09-06T14:46:17.570+01:00The Great Pyramid.
The Colossus of Rhodes.
The Han...The Great Pyramid.<br />The Colossus of Rhodes.<br />The Hanging Gardens of Babylon.<br />The Pharos of Alexandria.<br /><br />hmm... not too good. Must go and look them up! and read your books, Katherine.<br /><br />Ann Turnbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06484265041343702129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-35047604581894195072013-09-06T09:23:46.500+01:002013-09-06T09:23:46.500+01:00Sue, I haven't seen the US adaptation of The D...Sue, I haven't seen the US adaptation of The Dark is Rising, but since that was one of my absolute favourite books when I was about 10, I'm guessing it will feel a bit strange. It will be interesting to see how the film does over here. <br /><br />Very glad to hear your King Arthur book is getting a good reception, Petrea - I love all things Arthurian! (And yes, you can buy my books online - in fact that's the only place you'll find my backlist titles now, since I reissued them indie when they went out of print.) <br /><br />Agreed Kath! But Petrea is right when she says publishing is all about SALES - and that applies over here in the UK now, as well as in the US. Broadening readers' horizons does not seem to come into the equation any more. Maybe it never really did?Katherine Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-15198885302301831762013-09-06T08:32:37.945+01:002013-09-06T08:32:37.945+01:00I don't understand why US publishers seem to b...I don't understand why US publishers seem to be so worried! Surely the value of reading lies in broadening readers' experience and horizons, rather than limiting them? Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-33317563648187753722013-09-06T05:50:02.668+01:002013-09-06T05:50:02.668+01:00The American publishing business is an absolute me...The American publishing business is an absolute mess right now. I honestly think they have no idea what to buy or what not to buy, but they must, must, must SELL. And of course they don't have any idea what will sell. <br /><br />This is why self-publishing is huge here right now. Established publishers are terrified. Whole web communities have arisen to support independent authors and their readers, and as the fuddy-duddy publishers keep spitting out the same old stuff, the indie audience is growing every day.<br /><br />My book, "Camelot & Vine," is a King Arthur story, too, also set in Somerset. You and I both did our research into history, myth and archaeology, then injected our own imaginations. The publishing industry here (agents and editors) told me, "King Arthur doesn't sell." No one would even read it. Their reaction seemed ridiculous to me, because we have the "Merlin" TV series, countless books about Arthur on Amazon.com, and the biggest TV show, "Game of Thrones," set in a pseudo-medieval setting.<br /><br />So I took the leap and published it myself. I don't recommend this for everyone because it's a lot of work if you want to do it right. But I'm getting good reviews and proving my point. King Arthur <i>does</i> sell, and I'll bet your books would sell just fine here.<br /><br />Can I buy them online?Petrea Burchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13043950465171821852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-87291798632744738292013-09-06T03:47:13.716+01:002013-09-06T03:47:13.716+01:00You aren't American and can't write Americ...You aren't American and can't write American. It's a same, really, that the publishers think everything has to be American, because their readers don't. And when they do get European stories, they feel the need to adapt them(what US film producers did to Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising is unforgivable, but even US fans were angry). You just have to make the best of things and trust that people will buy your books online. Not as good, but something. FWIW, my publishers couldn't get a US edition of my first novel either. They're just selling the Aussie edition over there.Sue Bursztynskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09362273418897882971noreply@blogger.com