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this seems like a good time to say to all you authors and illustrators out there: PLEASE GET YOUR WORK IN ON TIME. otherwise, there will not be sales materials in on time to show to buyers. there is no faster way to kill a book.deadlines are there for a reason!

b-b-but i am making ART. you can't rush ART. are you some kind of philistine? you just don't understaaaaand.why yes, i do think that my editor sometimes has fantasies of putting me through a laundry mangle and just *wringing* the book out of me.

Here we are with an anonymous art director shaming anonymous authors and illustrators at the blog of an anonymous editor, which today features an anonymous book buyer. Sheesh.

Anon 2:54. If you want honest and candid information, that's the price. It's exceedingly generous of EA--and wow, what especially straight, useful info from this buyer.I could write epic poetry in support of the deadline argument--even when the way, way advance dates for materials seem absurd from the outside looking in. But I think the point has been made.

Anon 3:04: No value judgement was intended. It's just a striking amount of anonymity, that's all.

anonymous said: "this seems like a good time to say to all you authors and illustrators out there: PLEASE GET YOUR WORK IN ON TIME."And a good time to say to all those editors and art directors: hey, if you'd like your art on time, how 'bout GETTING BACK TO ME ABOUT THE REVISIONS, say more than two hours before the final deadline? Kindly remember that the author polishing a final draft and the

So you kill books ! What does that make you ? You know I don't care if I don't get paid for the story. I just want people to the read it and tell me what they think about and yes, I would send my email address along with.

A. "If you want honest and candid information, that's the price."I think that's a sad statement. B. "Hey, if you'd like your art on time, how 'bout GETTING BACK TO ME ABOUT THE REVISIONS, say more than two hours before the final deadline?"INDEED. Contracts often give those of us on the creative side like 9 months for revisions. Of course, it can take 8 of those for the editorial notes to be

Anon 2:07 said:"... I'm all for meeting deadlines on ALL sides... so, let's start building some deadline into the editor's side of the equation, okay?..."I'm an author not an illustrator, but, honestly, thank you for saying this. It is SO true. Deadlines seemed shockingly difficult for me, not because of the deadline itself, but from the lack of communication. At one point I needed some

Working illustrator and anon 2:07:I absolutely agree, and in the case of the titles I work on (which I realize is no help to you), I absolutely expect designers, illustrators, authors, production, etc to let me know that the delay at point X (whose ever fault the delay was) is going to cause further delays at points Y and Z. If you have worked with a house that cut into your revision time and yet

Anon 2:07 -- okay, to clarify, how about an emphasis on CANDID over honest.

EA, with all due respect, unless disregard is evident or all other channels of communication have been exhausted, the public airing of grievances strikes me as dangerous territory, especially when there’s a working relationship in place that should offer many opportunities for understanding and communication before that final step is taken. I understand how tough it is to wait, and especially to

Was this Website created just to boil my blood?An interesting interview with a book buyer is immediately used by someone in the industry to make a condescending crack at authors and illustrators......and the subject is one of the sorest imaginable: Deadlines, which as an author I took very seriously and my editor seemed completely unaware of.A two-way street?Communicate?How is one supposed to do

Anon 2:20. What did your editor say when you asked him/her about the delay? Assuming you eventually got through.

As for insisting on a "due dates" in a contract, all I can say is: Hah! I did insist on due dates for a multi-book project, due dates that were completely ignored by the publisher. What was I supposed to do? Take them to court? When there's a power imbalance, it doesn't much matter what's written in the contract. We authors just try to get along.By the way, my editor on the same project sent

Thnak you to whoever was the anonymous book buyer - nice interview and information - very appreciated.

Can I add a question that I don't THINK was covered (apologies if it was)? Beyond the book itself, the rep's thoughts, and sales history (if any), what influences your buy? How much does a marketing plan, for example, sway your other instincts?For an author with a history, what (if anything) helps to overcome a lower sales history?

Book Buyer, thank you for addressing my question so completely! I agree with you "anon2:54", it gets damn confusing. I didn't even know there WAS a posting here by an "anonymous art director". >I absolutely expect designers, illustrators, authors, production, etc to let me know that the delay at point X (whose ever fault the delay was) is going to cause further delays at points Y and Z.<AE, I do

While I realize it would take publishers joining together in a ban on the big chains and millions lost by them, I feel that if the pubs would take such a stand and only supply to the indys for a short time, the big guns would perhaps back down somewhat and make life better for all of us.Ever heard of collusion, restricting trade and price-fixing? The action you suggest is more than just biting

>Ever heard of collusion, restricting trade and price-fixing? The action you suggest is more than just biting the hands that feeds, it is illegal.<My suggestion had nothing to do with pricing. It had everything to do with supplying to the large chains "free" books, books of their choice and for sometimes the oddest reasons, the power they have over the publishers on every level, even to the point