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 BOLDFACE is starting to realize it was a mistake not to break out the gloves. What happened to fall this year? And while we're questioning things, what happened at the first Publishing Luminaries event? And who earned the title of First Place Know-it-Alls at the 4th Annual Trivia Challenge?
Read on to find out the answers to these and more questions, including recommended ways to deal with angry phone calls, where you should be on Thursday, January 31, and how you can win a beautiful signed, limited edition Book Week print by Fred Marcellino.
Bundle up! |
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New Program! The Publishing Luminaries Series |
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By Emilie Ziemer, Marketing Associate, HarperCollins Children's Books You know how some people dream of seeing their names in
lights? In our line of work, people dream about seeing their names in print. As
in, having their own First Name Last Name Books imprint. But what kind of
person is so brilliant as an editor that he or she achieves such success? If
Wendy Lamb is any indication, it's the person with intelligence, humor, grace, sincerity,
and above all unpretentious talent. And with a bit of chutzpah thrown in for
good measure. The CBC Early Career Committee kicked of its new Publishing
Luminaries speaker series on October 11, 2007 with Wendy Lamb, Publisher of
Wendy Lamb Books, a Random House imprint. In an informal and intimate gathering
at the CBC offices, Lamb espoused personal and remarkably candid advice about
publishing, working as an editor, the workplace, careers, mentoring, success,
failure, and what she defines as "the path to happiness" - that is, reinventing
yourself over and over again. "Our job as editors is to motivate
authors to do more work than they every thought they would have to do," she said. "We try
to encourage talented people to do something different with each book." Referencing a slipup she made early in her career, Lamb advised that "when something goes wrong, you
can't fix that people are angry. But you can show that you take them
seriously." She concluded, "In your twenties you can't really
make a mistake. So don't be afraid to try new things." Such sage advice represents just a few of the many highlights
of the evening's talk.
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Don't miss the next installment of the series, featuring Susan Hirschman, founder of Greenwillow Books!
Join us at the CBC offices on Thursday, January 31 at 6:00 p.m. for another wonderful evening. Email rebecca.miller@cbcbooks.org to reserve your spot.
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| Things You're Afraid To Ask Your Boss |
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Even the best bosses can be a little intimidating. Send us the questions you're hesitant to ask your boss face
to face, and we will get the answer for you from bosses across the industry! All
questions will remain anonymous. Send your burning questions to rebecca.miller@cbcbooks.org.
Q: Since many assistants answer the phones for their bosses, how do you recommend
handling an irritable author, agent, bookseller, or librarian?
Nicole Geiger, Publisher, Tricycle Press I always advise assistants to listen to the caller, even tell the caller that the assistant hears them so that the caller feels heard. Most people simply want
to feel heard. If for some reason the caller is abusive (and the definition of
this needs to be established and understood by the assistant ahead of time),
Tricycle assistants are instructed that they can calmly but firmly tell the
caller that that is not appropriate behavior and that they are hanging up -- and
then hang up. In all instances of an irritable call, I'm to be told ASAP,
hopefully with good notes in hand that the assistant jotted either during or
just after.
Rhalee Hughes, Director of Publicity, Penguin Young Readers
Group
It can be unnerving for
anyone to answer the phone to discover that someone is upset on the other end.
The best thing to do is to listen carefully to the other person, making sure
that you understand what is causing them to be distressed. Always remain calm
and give the other person enough time to articulate the problem. If it is
appropriate, tell them that you are sorry that they are so upset. Do try not to
interrupt. Once they are finished, acknowledge that you have heard all of the
important details by repeating some of the key points to your
caller.
It is important for
people to feel that they have been heard. Always be polite and professional.
Sometimes an unruffled, patient, and pleasant person on the other end of the
phone will calm the anxious person. You should always relay the message about
the call to your boss as soon as possible so s/he can return the phone call in a
timely manner. |
Trivia Challenge Wrap-Up
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The 4th Annual Extreme Trivia
Challenge went off with a bang on Thursday, November 1. MC extraordinaire Libba Bray presided over
the evening, entertaining a packed house of children's publishing employees.
Seven teams competed for the coveted (and delightfully tacky) Golden Bunny
trophies over the course of the hilarious -- but tense! -- competition. 
They
wheedled, they begged, they attempted to bribe... but Libba held firm,
and only the truly deserving prevailed.
Congratulations to the First
Place Know-it-Alls, who proved their mettle and coolness under
pressure: Schuyler Hooke (Random House), Rotem Moscovich (Scholastic),
Liz Tardiff (Holt), Julie Tibbot (Harcourt) and Emilie Ziemer
(HarperCollins). Above, the winners cruelly taunt their opponents. Can they defend their crown, or rather, bunny, against all comers next year?
The Second Place Know-it-Alls tasted greatness and have that much more to prove: Gina Gagliano (First Second), Steve Geck
(Greenwillow), Kristin Lidner (Random House), Laurent Linn (Holt), and
Leila Sales (Penguin).
Thank you to Scholastic and Random House for their generous support of the event! |
ECC Committee Changes
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The ECC bids a fond farewell to outgoing committee members Beth Barton (Harcourt), Martha Mihalick (Greenwillow), and Molly O'Neill (HarperCollins). A huge thank you to them for all that they've done for the committee! |
Win Stuff!
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With The Golden Compass coming out in theaters this week, it seems only fitting to test your Philip Pullman trivia.
The first two correct answers to the following question, emailed to rebecca.miller@cbcbooks.org, will win a limited edition, signed print of the 1992 Book Week poster by Fred Marcellino ("Read, Think, Dream")!
Lyra's daemon, Pantalaimon, can change his animal form while Lyra is still a child. Which of these forms does Pan NOT take in The Golden Compass?
a. mouse
b. ermine
c. monkey
d. moth
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See Your Name In Print
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Read any good books lately? Seen any movie adaptations that never should have gotten that green light? BOLDFACE wants to hear from you! We'd love to feature your review in an upcoming issue.
Email rebecca.miller@cbcbooks.org with your idea and/or review!
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Sign Up a Friend!
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 If BOLDFACE falls in the forest and no one is there, does it make a sound? If the ECC schedules fantastic programming but our newsletters don't reach the
right inboxes, isn't it time to update our subscriber list?
Add a new name to our mailing list -- your own, your cubicle neighbor's, the newest addition to your department's -- and receive a READ ACROSS AMERICA tote from the Children's Book Council! Email rebecca.miller@cbcbooks.org to subscribe.
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BOLDFACE, a quarterly e-newsletter, is a project
of the Children's Book Council's Early Career Committee. The ECC creates
programs to benefit children's publishing staff in their first five years in
the industry.
If you would like to subscribe (or unsubscribe) please send an e-mail to rebecca.miller@cbcbooks.org.
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