They're wrong for that!

[Paula Chase Hyman]

I belong to too many communities. Sometimes it overwhelms me.

But I'm Black. I'm a writer. I write Young Adult fiction.

I connect myself to communities that feed each individual part of me. When I visit here, I can rejoice in celebrations of my peers or lament the industry issues that make writing while Black a challenge.

I wish I were coming to rejoice, today.

The kiddie lit community has been in an uproar the last few days. Over this:

Yup, you guessed it, it's a book cover. What you don't know by looking at this cover, is Liar is about a Black teen with short, natural hair so "nappy-headed" she's been mistaken for a boy. While the author's Australian publisher went with a more abstract way to depict the main character's compulsive lying, the US publisher, Bloomsbury, decided to...sell more books, so they put a white girl on the cover.

The community is outraged. But the outrage is also tempered with folks trying to find a way to punish Bloomsbury without punishing the author, who has made it clear she did not support this cover.

Bloomsbury, for its part, has said: "“The entire premise of this book is about a compulsive liar,” said Melanie Cecka, publishing director of Bloomsbury Children’s Books USA and Walker Books for Young Readers, who worked on Liar. “Of all the things you’re going to choose to believe of her, you’re going to choose to believe she was telling the truth about race?”

Too bad the author has already stated that mis-represents the book. The MC lies about a lot of things, but not her very essence as a bi-racial person.

Bottom line, it's a mess turning into a fiasco on top of a heaping pile of, they wrong for that!

It points to all that is wrong about the publishing industry's marketing system, which is little more than aiming directly at the low-hanging fruit and happily going along if the book happens to do well outside of that.

Black YA authors are still in the early and fragile stages of being represented outside of historical fiction and hood stories. Note: We're starting to be represented outside of them but those two niches remain the easiest and best way for a Black author to succeed in Young adult fiction! The last thing we need is blatant self-fulfilling prophecy nonsense like this making folk think our books can't sell with our faces on them!

Why was it so hard for Bloomsbury to take this opportunity (100K first print run) to show that a book with a black face can sell across the races? Justine Larbalestier's previous books all feature MC's of color. Her fan base is used to this. It would not have shocked them to see a Black face on one of her books.

Instead, they retreated to a safe place (marketing wise) effectively smacking young readers of color in the face. A solid reminder to them that they're good enough to be featured in the story but no, thanks we need a little lightening up to market you, make you more palatable.

So let me get this straight...

Black books don't sell, unless they're by a white author with a white person on the cover.

I bet that comes as a huge shock to readers of books like these.

[Oz Wilson]

I've been marketing my book for over seven years and as of yet still can't get a publisher to even consider it. I'm smart enough to switch gears and write stuff that would be easier to sell but will it make a difference in a young man's life? No! So all I can do is keep trying and not give up. Please excuse the long rant but I just got another rejection letter. Please visit the website and check out my material and view a trailer of the film based on one of my stories.

[Oz Wilson]

I'm coming up against similar walls of racism and decisions based on fear and lack of sales. My genres are sci-fi, fantasy and horror. I'm also a screen writer as well, with one screen credit for an independent film.

You can imagine what I hear directly from studio personnel and publishers when I submit material to them based in those areas. "Blacks don't read sci-fi, or comic books, studios won't back a movie with a black superhero."

I do my best to create characters that a wide variety of readers can identify with and still enjoy the story. I especially try to write in a way to inspire young males that there are other avenues to pursue besides sports and music. I also try to awaken their imaginations.

The prisons across the country are filled with young men,some who are innocent that just needed a more creative outlet in order to avoid the pitfalls of "the streets." Can I get a publisher to even consider taking on a project with a proven formula? No! Because the principal characters and storyline is considered "too black" therefore it won't sell because we don't read enough or only our women read. Which is why there are a lot of female drama oriented books on the market.
It's as if the literary world has totally written off the young black male adult.

However the annual Comic-con in San Diego that just closed this week has proven that those genres are full of opportunity and promise for all if publishers would just open their minds and stop being driven by ancient stereotypes.

[Paula Chase Hyman]

have to admit that I am especially saddened by the fact that our unique hits are increasing, but we don't get the type of commentary and interaction that would be of interest and assistance to the rest of this community. Not sure if it's apathy or we're too 'busy' to take an editorial stand. Thank you both for bringing this to the site and infusing it with fresh opinion and commentary.

The Brown Bookshelf had a similar issue, at the start. We were getting plenty of hits/visits but people weren't commenting much. And many times it felt like we were talking into the wind. But thanks to a handful of active commenters like Susan and Doret - the energy picked up. Now, if the topic is hot enough people will participate.

I love what you're doing here at BAS. However, I agree with Susan (color online) that maybe interaction can start via the twitter account and grow from there. And maybe it'll just take awhile for people to find topics that push them from lurking to discussion. I'm sure it'll happen. It only takes a few active members and things will fall into place.

I do my best to visit/participate regularly and I'll continue to keep BAS abreast of the publishing world as it pertains to the children's lit community.

[Enoch Mubarak]

From my perspective the publisher did you a unintentional favor. It is brutal enough that black people are struggling and battling to overcome images and perceptions of ignorance, apathy, laziness, irresponsibility, negligence and stupidity.

Your book cover as originally intended with a black girls face on it with the title Liar would have done none of us any perceptual justice especially when you consider the age old poetic and proverb add-age that:"flies and Negroes I do despise for one spreads germs and the other tell lies.

If you want justice and the white publishers claim black books don't sell then make the publisher the "liar"

If the book cover depicts a white girl but the character is a black girl and if life gives you a lemon, you make lemonade. Promote your book cover the way it appears with the same mystery and suspense they promoted the movie "The Crying Game" with.

With creativity you can turn this into an advantage.

Enoch Mubarak
President & CEO Mubarak Inter-prizes
www.mubarakinter-prizes.com

[Jon Carl Lewis]

thanks for sharing your stories here and in the world...

[Color Online]

Hi BAS,

I meant for your tweet account. I'm unable to leave messages nor to share tweets with you. And my motivation following was so I could easily update BAS and when possible you could retweet. I found my way to the blog via Paula.

I think members might find it cumbersome to communicate. Maybe you can tweet about the need for members to tweet among ourselves. Another suggestion is to remind members they can post blog spots here or leave links at least.

Do a weekly meme of some sort so members can plan to be here for a specific purpose.

[Black Author Showcase]

The author's take on this mess: Justine Larbalestier "Ain’t That a Shame"
http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/23/aint-that-a-shame/
The Fiction Circus speaks on the subject with "Bloomsbury Says "Black Doesn't Sell"
by Miracle Jones http://www.fictioncircus.com/news.php?id=417&mode=one

I'm not sure what you mean by "I find it a little frustrating that I cannot leave messages on the Tweet account for this site . . . " - are you speaking of the Black Author Showcase Twitter account or the author or publishers account?

I have to admit that I am especially saddened by the fact that our unique hits are increasing, but we don't get the type of commentary and interaction that would be of interest and assistance to the rest of this community. Not sure if it's apathy or we're too 'busy' to take an editorial stand. Thank you both for bringing this to the site and infusing it with fresh opinion and commentary.

[Paula Chase Hyman]

Funny you mention the Brown Bookshelf being flooded. We haven't been but people are clicking through on the post about this. Daily page hits have been down lately because we haven't refreshed content daily. But in the last 24 hours we got 400 hits just to the Liar post. As you said - next step, speaking out.

[Color Online]

Okay, clearly I meant why 'isn't' the Brown Bookshelf flooded'?

[Color Online]

Paula,

Thanks for the post. I find it a little frustrating that I cannot leave messages on the Tweet account for this site nor that Color Online isn't followed by this group especially since my blog is solely committed to POC writers.

Okay, sorry for being cranky but I have been following this controversy and posting like made to be sure the publisher and white readers know this is unacceptable. I want more than liberal, white outrage. I want to know where are we? Why aren't we blowing up Bloomsbury's email? Why aren't we on a tweeting frenzy and posting to the various blog about this recent insult?

I realize this treatment isn't new, but we still have to speak up. We have to be a pain in their assess and say this is not acceptable.

I will not be silent. And frankly, if we as black writers and readers are not expressing our outrage and withholding our dollars then we are equally complicit.

And while I'm here, what are we going to do to create more book blogs and webspaces for teens of color? Why aren't there a gazillion blogs by black teens promoting black books? Where are the adults mentoring and promoting YA fiction for children of color?

Why is the Brown Bookshelf flooded with comments from black readers and writers?

Yeah, I'm not happy today. Not happy at all. I'm sick of tongue wagging. When white folks calm down, I'll still be black and I'll still be in the minority of bloggers promoting POC writers. Writers need readers so I'm calling on writers to step up and speak out at Bloomsbury and when you're done with that, show up in the blogosphere and support teens of color who are looking for your books.