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| SCBWI
France |
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| Meet
the Pros |
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| SCBWI France publishes interviews
both in the SCBWI France Expression newsletter
and on-line. These interviews offer an insider's
view of the international children’s
publishing market. |
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| Simone
Kaplan |
Simone
Kaplan is one of our
featured speakers at the Spring
2001 Conference in Paris, 12-13
May 2001. Sandra Guy, Bridget
Strevens Marzo and Erzsi Deak
interviewed Simone Kaplan for
Kidbookpros in January 2001
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1.
SCBWI: Please tell us a little about your
background.
Simone
Kaplan: I was living in South Africa and editing
magazines for children and teenagers when
I decided that I wanted to work on something
more enduring. Because there's a very small
market for children's books in South Africa
it's hard to make them affordable so I knew
I'd have to come to either New York or London.
My first job in New York was with Henry Holt
and Co. where I worked with some wonderful
authors and illustrators including Bill Martin
Jr., the author of Brown Bear, Brown Bear
What do You See? I then moved to HarperCollins
-- which is where I still am.
2.
SCBWI: What was the most inspiring children's
book you've ever read?
Simone:
Just one? There are so many . . . but one
of the most wise and wonderful is A Wizard
of Earthsea by Ursula Le Guin.
3.
SCBWI: What are some of your favorite children's
books you wished you'd worked on?
Simone:
None, really. But there are many, many, many
that I'm glad were published so that I could
read and enjoy them.
4.
SCBWI: What are some recent titles that you
are particularly proud of having worked on
and why)?
Simone:
I'm proud of almost all the Growing Tree titles
because they accomplish conceptually what
we set out to do and with such high literary
and creative standards. I've recently worked
on two books which I love. UNDER THE BIG SKY
by Trevor Romain is a gentle inspiring work
and I hope that it'll reach many people, both
children and adults. De Loss McGraw is an
artist whose illustrations for Lewis Carroll's
ALICE IN WONDERLAND are inspiring, and make
you look at the 'classic' in a fresh, new
way - one which Carroll himself would appreciate
I think. There are so many others that I love
and am proud of having worked on - Katya's
Book of Mushrooms by Katya Arnold, Trashy
Town with illustrations by Dan Yaccarino,
The Great Peace March by Holly Near with illustrations
by Lisa Desimini and works by Kathi Appelt,
Sid Hite, and
Rebecca Dotlich. And all for different reasons!
5.
SCBWI: What do see as the role of the "ideal
editor" as being?
Simone:
The "ideal editor" is a bit of a
shape changer to my mind. Different things
to different books - and different authors
- at different times.
6.
SCBWI: What would you say was the definition
of HarperGrowing Tree's publishing program?
How would you define the "voice"
of HarperGrowing Tree? How would you describe
the look of a HarperGrowing Tree book?
Simone:
Growing Tree is a language driven line of
books for children newborn to three years
old. The look and voice of each book varies
because the subject matter sets the tone both
for the sound of the language and the visual
approach. They are always of a high quality
though -the writing is superb, the illustrations
age appropriate yet beautiful and interesting
to look at.
7.
SCBWI: What are the features that grab your
attention in a manuscript for children 0-7?
Simone: Interesting subject ––
or an interesting approach to a subject. Good
writing. Fresh insight. Exciting language.
8. SCBWI:
If you can speak of "easy readers,"
what do you view as the key points to bear
in mind when writing an easy reader?
Simone:
I really don't know much about "easy
readers." Harper publishes the highly
respected line of I CAN READ BOOKS which are
carefully edited by very specialized, highly
skilled editors. They edit and publish according
to their insights and guidelines. I would
imagine though that the first things they're
looking for are fresh, wee told stories.
9.
SCBWI: What do you perceive as the role of
the books you publish in the lives of contemporary
children?
Simone:
I value the role of books highly in the lives
of all people. They offer windows into lives,
minds, and worlds, and possibilities which
would otherwise be inaccessible.
10.
SCBWI: What do you see as the current trends
at the moment?
Simone: Trends come and go. Good books
endure. And those picture books which tend
to endure have a sweetness, a gentle, timeless
intelligence that speaks to many generations.
11. SCBWI:
What's the average print run at HarperGrowing
Tree? Is there one?
Simone:
Print runs vary depending on the author, illustrator,
and subject matter.
12.
SCBWI: How many titles do you publish a year?
Simone:
We publish 12 Growing Tree titles a year.
In addition I edit about another four - six
books a year.
13.
SCBWI: Is there such a person as an ideal
HarperGrowing Tree reader?
Simone: Not really.
14. SCBWI:
What types of books are you looking for? Can
you describe the kind of stories you'd like
to see?
Simone:
I'm looking for anything good, fresh, innovative,
exciting. I can't describe what I'm looking
for because then I'd be able to go out and
ask one of the authors I know and love to
write it for me. I want to be surprised and
engaged by something new. Something which
I couldn't have thought of.
15.
SCBWI: Are you accepting unsolicited manuscripts?
Simone: Absolutely, yes. I welcome
them.
16. SCBWI:
What say (if any) does the sale/marketing
department have in the look or type of books
you produce?
Simone:
Although the editor is the final protector
of the creative vision embodied
in a book, the market is so competitive at
the moment it makes sense to gather the opinions
and thoughts of the people on the selling
side of the publishing business. Although
you don't want to publish by committee, the
thoughts of people with different knowledge
can make a difference to the ultimate success
of a book.
17.
SCBWI: Several UK publishing houses speak
of a glut of good illustrators but not enough
decent manuscripts to keep them in work. Is
this the case with HarperGrowing Tree?
Simone:
Yes. But there are also a lot of really wonderful
manuscripts waiting for the perfect illustrator.
18.
SCBWI: Do you actually take on/promote unknown
illustrators? Have you ever taken a risk taking
on a new illustrator (that has worked/failed)?
Simone:
Yes. I've published a few first time illustrators
and authors and there's always something exciting
about the discovery. Some people take to the
creative process of bookmaking better than
others and create books which are more creatively
successful. There's no way to tell in advance.
Although it's true that an author or illustrator
who is known to the market will probably sell
more copies of their book than a first timer.
19.
SCBWI: What do you value most in an illustrator
(original style, adaptability, imagination.
. . )
Simone:
All of the above. Genius helps too!
20.
SCBWI: What is your attitude to illustrators
changing styles or working in different styles?
Simone:
I'm very much in favor of creative people
pushing their own boundaries. So in theory
changing styles is to be encouraged - as is
working in different styles. In practice the
style needs to be successful and to work with
the text it's meant to illustrate.
21.
SCBWI: What do you see as some of the common
mistakes authors and/or illustrators could
AVOID making when submitting?
Simone: I think authors and illustrators
need to be sure that they're submitting the
best work they possibly can. |
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