Comments on: Will First Consensus Novel of the Year Mean Changes? http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/ Mormon Arts and Culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:40:41 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mahonri Stewart http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32146 Mahonri Stewart Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:40:12 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32146 I love the idea and setup of the Whitneys, I was very impressed, even though I didn't attend the actual even. Although I must admit there are elements of the AML Awards which the Whitneys haven't picked up, such as branching out into other literary-based mediums such as Theater and Film. As a playwright, I would love to see the Whitney adopt those kind of mediums. I love the idea and setup of the Whitneys, I was very impressed, even though I didn’t attend the actual even. Although I must admit there are elements of the AML Awards which the Whitneys haven’t picked up, such as branching out into other literary-based mediums such as Theater and Film. As a playwright, I would love to see the Whitney adopt those kind of mediums.

]]> By: Mahonri Stewart http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32145 Mahonri Stewart Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:32:36 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32145 Kent, I voted in the Whitneys, so A Motley Vision was actually represented. :] Kent, I voted in the Whitneys, so A Motley Vision was actually represented.
:]

]]> By: William Morris http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32133 William Morris Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:41:39 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32133 Your library is excellent, Josi. And it shows the value of canon-forming projects like awards. Your library is excellent, Josi. And it shows the value of canon-forming projects like awards.

]]> By: Josi S. Kilpack http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32131 Josi S. Kilpack Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:59:56 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32131 Great commentary and afterthoughts--I was thrilled when Coke's book won because of the very thing stated here; there is a variety of books to be read and honored and I loved that there was a good cross section represented in the semi-finalists and among the winners. As I understand it, people involved in the LDS publishing industry can apply to become an academy member, so if you have a stake in LDS writing you can have a vote. Also, I have a very small local library but I took them a list of the whitney semi-finalists and they were excited to have something to go off of when ordering books into the library. Even if you don't buy the book yourself, encouraging your library to do so helps the Whitney vision of access to quality fiction move forward. And congrats again, Coke, I loved your acceptance speech and was absolutely thrilled for you. Great commentary and afterthoughts–I was thrilled when Coke’s book won because of the very thing stated here; there is a variety of books to be read and honored and I loved that there was a good cross section represented in the semi-finalists and among the winners. As I understand it, people involved in the LDS publishing industry can apply to become an academy member, so if you have a stake in LDS writing you can have a vote. Also, I have a very small local library but I took them a list of the whitney semi-finalists and they were excited to have something to go off of when ordering books into the library. Even if you don’t buy the book yourself, encouraging your library to do so helps the Whitney vision of access to quality fiction move forward.

And congrats again, Coke, I loved your acceptance speech and was absolutely thrilled for you.

]]> By: William Morris http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32120 William Morris Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:47:08 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32120 Excellent. Congratulations again on the successful event. Excellent. Congratulations again on the successful event.

]]> By: Rob Wells http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32119 Rob Wells Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:31:03 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32119 Hey guys, I'm very grateful for all the kind things you've said about the awards. I'm still amazed by how well everything went, and by the kind of support that the Whitneys received. We're going to tweak the awards a little bit this year--now that we know a little better how to do thing--and I'll certainly keep you appraised of how it's coming. Hey guys,
I’m very grateful for all the kind things you’ve said about the awards. I’m still amazed by how well everything went, and by the kind of support that the Whitneys received. We’re going to tweak the awards a little bit this year–now that we know a little better how to do thing–and I’ll certainly keep you appraised of how it’s coming.

]]> By: William Morris http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32116 William Morris Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:48:56 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32116 Best of luck, Beth. You've done a good job of creating some well-deserved buzz for the book. Let's hope the retail stores decided to try and leverage that. Best of luck, Beth. You’ve done a good job of creating some well-deserved buzz for the book. Let’s hope the retail stores decided to try and leverage that.

]]> By: Elizabeth Petty Bentley http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32115 Elizabeth Petty Bentley Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:12:40 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32115 Mega-congratulations to both Coke and Chris. I've always had faith that there was a sizeable market for more challenging LDS stories. I wish you both all the best with a very deserving book. And yes, Chris, I've been beating on the same doors you have. Granite took Angela's book, Bound on Earth, to their committee yesterday, and I'm hopeful they'll want to carry it. Meanwhile, I'm encouraged that BYU Bookstore and the Orem B&N have stocked it. I think we're making steady progress--thanks in large part to blogs like AMV. Beth Parables Mega-congratulations to both Coke and Chris. I’ve always had faith that there was a sizeable market for more challenging LDS stories. I wish you both all the best with a very deserving book. And yes, Chris, I’ve been beating on the same doors you have. Granite took Angela’s book, Bound on Earth, to their committee yesterday, and I’m hopeful they’ll want to carry it. Meanwhile, I’m encouraged that BYU Bookstore and the Orem B&N have stocked it. I think we’re making steady progress–thanks in large part to blogs like AMV.

Beth
Parables

]]> By: Kent Larsen http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32113 Kent Larsen Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:57:02 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32113 Good for you, Coke. Sometimes the LDS market reminds me of what I sometimes see pigeons do here in New York. Two pigeons will sometimes fight over a crumb thrown to them, remaining blissfully ignorant of the many handfuls of crumbs scattered on the ground around them. [Of course, here pigeons are also known as "rats with wings," but that's another story...] Somehow most publishers in our market seem willing to fight over sales in a portion of the market that might reach 20% of active Church members. Protecting your share of 20% isn't likely to be as beneficial as grabbing a share of the 80% that's not being reached. I think you managed to get away from the companies that are focused on the 20%. Good for you, Coke.

Sometimes the LDS market reminds me of what I sometimes see pigeons do here in New York. Two pigeons will sometimes fight over a crumb thrown to them, remaining blissfully ignorant of the many handfuls of crumbs scattered on the ground around them. [Of course, here pigeons are also known as "rats with wings," but that's another story...]

Somehow most publishers in our market seem willing to fight over sales in a portion of the market that might reach 20% of active Church members. Protecting your share of 20% isn’t likely to be as beneficial as grabbing a share of the 80% that’s not being reached.

I think you managed to get away from the companies that are focused on the 20%.

]]> By: Coke Newell http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/will-first-consensus-novel-of-the-year-mean-changes/comment-page-1/#comment-32112 Coke Newell Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:13:57 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=428#comment-32112 In light of the above discussion, which is typically AMV fascinating, would it interest anyone to know that I never even CONSIDERED submitting "On the Road to Heaven" to Deseret Book or any of its imprints? I tried numerous New York publishers with it... including St. Martin's Press, which has made over a quarter of a million dollars on my previous book with them (Latter Days: A Guided Tour Through Six Billion Years of Mormonism, 2000). With my former SMP editor retiring, I found no interest there (which is perhaps the most depressing comment of all in regards to Mormon books finding an audience in the larger world). I harbored no illusions at all that DB would be interested; but on the other hand, I simply wasn't interested in THEM. Chris Bigelow created exactly what I was looking for: a brave publisher willing to look at and publish the honest story of a convert who came from a world in which a Savior was actually needed and wanted. As I've said in another piece on this website, readers who want to read the conversion story of someone who started out mostly perfect and just needed a little tweak will just have to buy a different book. From a different publisher. In light of the above discussion, which is typically AMV fascinating, would it interest anyone to know that I never even CONSIDERED submitting “On the Road to Heaven” to Deseret Book or any of its imprints?

I tried numerous New York publishers with it… including St. Martin’s Press, which has made over a quarter of a million dollars on my previous book with them (Latter Days: A Guided Tour Through Six Billion Years of Mormonism, 2000). With my former SMP editor retiring, I found no interest there (which is perhaps the most depressing comment of all in regards to Mormon books finding an audience in the larger world).

I harbored no illusions at all that DB would be interested; but on the other hand, I simply wasn’t interested in THEM.

Chris Bigelow created exactly what I was looking for: a brave publisher willing to look at and publish the honest story of a convert who came from a world in which a Savior was actually needed and wanted. As I’ve said in another piece on this website, readers who want to read the conversion story of someone who started out mostly perfect and just needed a little tweak will just have to buy a different book. From a different publisher.

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