Yoel, I am chairperson of the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award Competition. This annual competition is open to authors-unpublished in the genre of literary fiction for ages 8-13.
We evaluate manuscripts that are submitted to the committee. These manuscripts must adhere to a set of criteria that include literary excellence and Judaic relevance. As part of the prize for winning the competition, the winning manuscript is submitted to an experienced literary agent (a member of AJL) for an evaluation. Many of the submitted manuscripts have been published. While there is no requirement on subject, many of the manuscripts deal with unique aspects of the Holocaust: people , settings, or experiences that have not been treated in books for children. However, most of the submissions are either only tangentially connected to or have nothing to do with the Holocaust or what I call the sacred H of Jewish children's books: heroes, holidays and Holocaust. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a market for many if these worthy potential books. I question if AJL can financially support a publishing program although the idea is certainly worthy. Aileen Grossberg > On Dec 8, 2015, at 8:09 AM, Yoel Sheridan <[email protected]> wrote: > > Dear Heidi > > Since writing to you about your podcast ‘Enough with the Holocaust Books’, > when I suggested that AJL could by-pass mainstream channels and offer reviews > of independently published books in subjects of their choice, I have had an > additional thought that I would like to share with you. > > As you know only too well, the fast development of the digital age is forcing > libraries to face difficult decisions as to their future function in society > and sadly some libraries are even facing extinction. Libraries rely on > mainstream publishers who determine which book to publish, primarily by its > commercial value, and then determine its popularity by the extent of their > promotional activity. In these matters libraries exert little or no > influence. > > I venture to suggest that an organization of libraries such as AJL, could > exert its collective latent purchasing power on the publishing industry by > focusing on independent authors who are currently being wooed by the > print-on-demand and other publishers, who print, but often do not effectively > promote, the books they publish. > > AJL could commission, and/or offer to review, manuscripts on subjects of > AJL’s choosing, giving a guarantee to purchase after publication (at a > discounted price) a pre-determined number of books (a reasonable print run?), > that meet pre-determined standards. Authors who will have that guarantee can > then either approach mainstream or other publishers with a guarantee of your > backing, or self-publish with extra confidence. > > At the moment AJL provides a service of reviewing books and awarding authors > that have already been published. Why not add, or switch to, reviewing > manuscripts and so influence the nature and quality of the books on library > shelves? Income can be generated by charging authors a reasonable review fee. > > Libraries and authors are today, the two weakest links in the publishing > world. Joined together, the links will be exponentially stronger. > > Just a thought! > > Shalom and best wishes > > Yoel Sheridan > Israel > [email protected] > www.tenterbooks.com > > This email has been sent from a virus-free computer protected by Avast. > www.avast.com > __ > Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author > and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) > ================================== > Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: > [email protected] > To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: > https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] > Ha-Safran Archives: > Current: > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > Earlier Listserver: > http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html > AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org > -- > Hasafran mailing list > [email protected] > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
__ Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) ================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: [email protected] To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: [email protected] Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list [email protected] https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
