SCBWI North West Professional Panel

On Saturday 22nd April, Manchester City Library played host to the second event in the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators North West Professional Series. The Baker room was packed, and not surprisingly as our speakers for the afternoon brought a wealth of experience from the publishing and agenting world of children's literature. They included, Catherine Pellegrino, literary agent, Ben Cameron from the Pavilion Children's Books and Fiona Ross, the events manager for the UK division of Barefoot Books.

Catherine Pellegrino, Ben Cameron, Fiona Ross

In a three hour long session of talk, questioning and the occasional pitch much wit and wisdom was shared. Here we bring you our edited highlights.

Catherine Pellegrino

Catherine could not tell us enough times just how much she loves her job. She has twenty five years experience in children's literature and has worked for companies including Bloomsbury and Penguin. More recently she spent five years with Rogers, Coleridge and White Literary Agency before setting up her own business last year. She is looking for imaginative, well crafted writing but more than anything a strong, engaging voice.

Catherine shared her thoughts with us about  why a writer should have an agent.

Gatekeepers. A good agent is the gatekeeper to to industry. They know EVERYONE in the publishing houses. They will have a good idea of what manuscript will suit which  publisher and they are able to submit to those publishers that are closed to unsolicited material.

They like the slushpile. As writers we often feel so negative about it, but to an agent... 'There's gold in them there slushpiles!'

Agents are editors. It's a difficult time to be picked up by a publisher. Anything at all wrong with your manuscript may give an editor the excuse to walk away. But your agent will edit, and edit and edit again, helping you to make sure your precious story is as perfect as it can be by the time in lands on a commissioning editors desk.

Negotiators. Don't grumble about that 15% commission, a good agent will find you the best possible deal, better than you are likely to arrange yourself, and easily earn it back.

Troubleshooters. Agents act a middle man between yourself and your publisher. Should the publisher be dragging their heels on getting that publication date then the agent can deal with them on your behalf. Or if you are taking your time with your final edit... well you get the picture, but it all builds to good relationships between writers and publishers.

On your side. Your agent is there for you, they have your best interests at heart, and are on the end of a phone should you need them. The best kinds of writer/ agent relationships should be built on trust and last a career.

One of the ''Fantastic' books on Pavilion's back list.

Ben Cameron, Pavilion Books

Pavilion Children's Books is an imprint of Anova Books and has been publishing for nearly thirty years.  It is most well know for publishing Terry Jones' 'Fairy Tales and Fantastic Stories' as well as works by people including Paul McCartney, Quentin Blake and Michael Foreman.

They are now a small publisher producing around twenty books a year, many of these are from their strong blacklist but they also publish around eight new titles. They are happy to work with both agented and unagented writers.They publish fiction books for babies and children up  to 12 . They are especially interested in books that have a really engaging humour.

Here are some of Ben's hints.

Life.  Make sure you have one and that you share something of it when you submit. We want to know about you beyond your story.

Word count. Stick to it, under a thousand words for picture books and under thirty thousand for novels.

Pictures. If you write picture books but don't illustrate, don't try to, or find someone else to. Leave it to us to match you with the illustrator that will suit you.

Patience. It may tale us a little while but we WILL get back to you.

Fiona Ross Barefoot Books

Fiona is the Events Manager for the UK division of Barefoot Books, a transatlantic publisher with a strong emphasis on multicultural stories that have an ethical or moral dimension. They are open to submission and are looking for illustraors or writers  to work on early reading projects.

As an Events Manager Fiona has to come up with all kinds of weird and wonderful ways to promote Barefoot Books. This often involves bringing the book alive, making it a three dimensional multi-sensory experience in some way, and has on occasion included sleepovers. Yet with all her creativity Fiona was keen to throw the ball back at us as writers. What can we do do help promote ourselves and our books both before and after publication? 

National Curriculum. Can you link your book in anyway to the National Curriculum? Will it fit into one of the literacy strands, or possibly history , geography or PSHE? If you don't know it's time to get talking to your teacher friends. If a publisher can make a clear link with the National Curriculum then schools sales will increase and you will be reaching your target audience.

Another hat. Okay so we know your a writer, but what else do you do? If you climb mpountains write an article about mountain climbing that mentions your book. If you bake cakes send articles to cake magazines and mention your book. Could your story include a cake recipe? Could it be a cake? Partner yourself with interseted organisations that may promote your book.

Social Media. Facebook, Twitter and other social networks is where it's all happening and it's time you joined the party. Don't use it as the place to lay on the hard sell, but to engage with people. Get their interest by asking intersting questions, invite them to come back and engage with you.  Possibly start a blog (but more on that later)

Coffee, cake and chat.

Questions and Answers

After cake break and pitching we all reconvened for an extensive Q & A that ranged over topics including submission hates, rhyming books and trends. Here are some questions we really sunk our teeth into.

What's your opinion on self publishing?

Ben- It is a  continuum of the publishing world, but in no way an easy option as it means you have a heavy responsibility to self edit and self promote.

Catherine- There have been reported cases of big successes through self publishing so it can happen. BUT self publishing companies usually do not offer a thorough editorial service meaning that your book may not be finished to the quality it deserves.

How do you feel about the e-book verses traditional print?

Fiona- the e-book is effecting children's publishing less as parental nostalgia means that parents still but books fot their children. Apps can add to the reading experience but don't overtake the traditional book.

Ben- For very small children print is still the most practical format. Personally  I feel that the e-book is taking more away from the illusrator than the writer.

Catherine- I love my kindle but wonder what will happen to all the antiquated bookshops in the future. In some respects e-books is  doing publishers a service. They are now looking closely at their production values and producing books that people really want to own.

How useful is social networking as most children don't use it?

Fiona- It's the adults that buy the books, you need to show case yourself on line to them.

Ben- most bookshops are on Twitter, you should be interacting and building relationships with them.

Catherine- You owe it to yourself, your agent and your publisher to have an on-line presence and  just leaving the great onesself promote.

So what about blogging? Is it useful?

Fiona- Blogging is part of the on-line holy trinity 'Facebook, Twitter and blog' which gives you a web presence and gets people commenting (and you can delete all the negative comments and just leave the great ones). But take care, it is a commitment and may take you away from writing your book so be strict with yourself.

Catherine- It's great but you have to remember that you are show casing your skills as a writer. It must have a strong voice and include interesting, original material. You also need to be regular in your blog so to build a following, at least once a fortnight.

Hanging on their every word!

So a big thanks to everyone on the panel who gave up some of their weekend to give us the insiders look on the world of children's literature. Everyone left, having being engaged and informed, and with their fingers crossed (if they had a crack at pitching).

The next event in the SCBWI North West Professional Series is the writing and marketing workshop run by Phillipa Donovan from Egmont. It's on 12th May City  Library Manchester at 12pm