As Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors founder and let’s say president, I see it as the kid lit equivalent of the four horsemen of the apocalypse when the Children's Choice Book Awards Author of the Year is Rush Limbaugh. I'm sure that there are and will be many thoughtful articles about what happened to make the winner of a prestigious children's literature award for Rush Revere and The Brave Pilgrims: Time-Travel Adventures With Exceptional Americans. But all I can say is, "Dear God, what have we done?"
The power of the bestseller was a slippery slope for children's literature awards. Certainly the power of the celebrity author - with their top budget promotions and guaranteed WalMart shelf space - was enough for a snarky online cause like Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors. But now, we've added to this mixture the nebulous and sometimes nefarious power of the Internet, which allows anyone to vote for this now-less-prestigious award. There is no way - NO WAY! - that children voted for Rush Limbaugh over Rick Riordan or Veronica Roth.
I'll let cooler heads prevail on what happens next, but for what it's worth BACA's back!
Though perhaps, a little too late.
Rush Limbaugh? Are you kidding me?
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By: Pam Coughlan,
on 5/15/2014
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, CCBA, Signs of the Apocalypse, Add a tag
By: Betsy Bird,
on 7/5/2011
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Uncategorized, BACA, Mini Grey, Thomas the Tank Engine, Lauren Myracle, Alma Flor Ada, Where's Waldo?, celebrity children's authors (may they rot), stage adaptations, Jonathan Auxier, 9/11 books, board books from hell, Margery Sharp, shadow puppets, Steph Rogaine, What the heck's a space hopper?, Add a tag
Amusing. I wrote an article for SLJ about the Bologna Book Fair and why librarians should attend in droves. I was unprepared for some of the formatting choices on the piece, though. The title Betsy Goes to Bologna caught me off guard, though it’s certainly true. But it was the art created for the piece showing a pregnant and hugely stylish librarian jet setting about the town that really caught my fancy. First off, I’ll have to find out from artist Ali Douglass where I can go about getting some of the shoes my avatar is sporting in these pics. Second, anyone who saw me in Bologna will be amused by the difference in relative ankle circumference. Mine were, needless to say, more akin to sturdy oaks than the svelte saplings portrayed here.
- You have to wonder how bad a book can be when its celebrity author can’t make a sale. In this case, Sarah Ferguson can’t sell a picture book about a little heroic pear tree on 9/11 to U.S. publishers. To which we say, thanks guys. I think I owe you one. And if you’d like to abstain from printing any other celebrity picture books, please! Don’t feel you have to ask permission.
- The other day I was kvetching my usual kvetch about how it is that anytime a children’s middle grade novel appears in the news, it’s instantly dubbed “YA”. Seems that I’m not the first person to notice this oddity, though. Monica Edinger pointed out to me that over at the fabulous Misrule blog, Judith Ridge wrote the piece Whither the Children’s Books?. In it she discusses, amongst other things, the fact that she once saw a reviewer refer to a book as “young-young adult”. It’s enough to make your teeth itch.
- I think it was Travis Jonker who pointed out the strange thing about this article. Not that thousands of people were able to locate adequate Where’s Waldo outfits. It’s the fact that there was already a world record for Most Waldos. Of course, over in Britain he’s known as Wally (if anyone can give me an adequate reason for the American name change I’d love to hear it). My favorite line from the piece? “The Street Performance World Championships managed has organised similar events and last year broke the world record for the most people on space hoppers.” Space hoppers? Still, it looked mighty impressive:
Thanks to Travis Jonker for the link.
- ALA is over and done with once again. So what did we learn? New author Jonathan Auxier has some answers to that question in his Five Things I Learned at ALA. My favorite without a doubt: 4) Don’t Tell Lauren Myracle Anything.
- All g
10 Comments on Fusenews: Terms we can live without = Young-young Adult, last added: 7/8/2011Display Comments Add a Comment
By: Betsy Bird,
on 5/18/2011
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: cool bookmarks, celebrity children's authors (may they rot), Leno = Worst Celebrity Picture Book of All Time, Nifting the Sifty, Paula Poundstone, NYPL, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, title fun, banned books, Uncategorized, BACA, J. Patrick Lewis, Laini Taylor, booktalking, Add a tag
From sopping wet New York City here is your philosophical question of the day: If April showers bring May flowers, what the heck do May showers bring? Ponder that while I hand you a piping hot plate o’ Fusenews.
- My library branch is turning 100 next week (you may have noticed the pretty New Yorker cover that referenced this) but it’s acting pretty spry for a centennial. For one thing, NYPL is coming out left and right with fancy dancy apps! Here’s one for the researchers. Here’s another that’s a game. Here’s a third that lets you reserve books. Insanity!
- This week’s Best Post Ever: Travis Jonker is a genius. A full-blown, certified genius. He’s come up with a Middle Grade Title Generator that leaps on the current trend of titles that sound like “The (insert word ending in -ion) of (insert slightly off kilter first and last name for girls)”. He came up with a couple examples like “The Gentrification of Geraldine Frankenbloom” but his commenters really picked up the gist of the idea and ran with it. Rockinlibrarian’s “The Zombification of Apple McGillicutty” (which I would read in a red hot minute) may be my favorite but a close second was Lisa’s “The Excommunication of Willow Diddledeedee.” I got nothing so cool. The best I could come up with was “The Computerization of Sarasota McNerdly.” I doubt it would sell.
- Adam Rex recently penned a post that works as An Open Letter to Everyone Who Thinks It Must Be Easy, Writing Children’s Books. It’s in response to Paula Poundstone (whom I also like) and her recent faux pas on Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me when she told Brenda Bowen that she thought it would be easy to write a picture book. Note, if you will, that Poundstone has not actually attempted to do so. In fact, the only stand-up comedian picture books that immediately come to mind are those by Whoopie Goldberg, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, and Jeff Foxworthy. And weren’t those memorable! Not in a good way, of course. Particularly the Leno. *shudder*
- She wrote it back in 2006 but it still applies today (particularly in conjunction with Adam Rex’s post). Meghan McCarthy asks the age old question What makes us qualified to write for children? I believe Anne Carroll Moore once asked Ursula Nordstrom the same question about editing for children (a cookie for everyone who remembers Nordstrom’s response). Yet another reason why we need to follow-up on Peter Sieruta’s suggestion to create an Anne Carroll Moore/Ursula Nordstrom crime solver series. I envision Moore as the Bert to Nordstrom’s Ernie, don’t you?
- Speaking of Peter (my co-writer on a book we’re creating with Jules from Seven Impossible Things), recently Collecting Children’s Books did a great round-up of great authors 9 Comments on Fusenews: Sifting the Nifty, last added: 5/19/2011
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 5/11/2010
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Add a tag
As Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors founder and, let's say president, I claim the end of life as we know it following this announcement:
TYRA BANKS SIGNS MULTI-BOOK DEAL WITH DELACORTE PRESS
"Delacorte Press has acquired MODELLAND, the first novel in a three-book series written by international, entertainment, and media icon Tyra Banks... Drawing from an area of expertise she is avidly passionate about, Tyra’s MODELLAND is the story of a teen girl in a make-believe society who finds herself competing for a way of life that's both hotly desired and woefully out of reach at an academy for Intoxibellas, the most exceptional models known to humankind. As the plot unfolds, readers will uncover lessons that are buried beneath the surface of this magical world."
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 5/23/2008
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Add a tag
A Jeff Foxworthy poetry book? To the BACAmobile!!! So Jeff Foxworthy wrote kid poetry. I don’t mean that he wrote poetry for kids I mean that he wrote poetry like a kid. If you saw it on your child’s elementary school homework, you’d be mildly amused. But from an adult? Oh, not good. And there is no way on God’s green earth that the jacketflap should read, “In this hilarious collection of
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 3/26/2008
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Add a tag
I haven't read The Big One -Oh by Dean Pitchford, but I think it's interesting that the blurbs are by Jamie Lee Curtis and John Lithgow. Dean Pitchford is himself a celebrity as a songwriter, though I would have totally cut him BACA slack because there's no big name recognition factor. However, now that the book's been blurbed by two celebrities on the front cover, as the founder of Bloggers
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 12/25/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Family, Christmas, BACA, Brotherhood 2.0, Add a tag
Instead of talking about the joy of Christmas, the spirit of giving, and all that jazz, I’d like to focus my attention on the little things that really bring the holiday home to me. Of course, there’s always not getting what you wanted. In this case, not making the Brotherhood 2.0 Happy Dance video. We were disappointed. We posted a video response with the girls dancing at, yes, The Land of
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 12/3/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Add a tag
As president, I guess, of Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors, I try to live by the code that I created. Namely this:As BACA members, we will strive to shun celebrity authors in the blogging world... We will, as members, avoid giving undue publicity to celebrity authors, with the possible allowance of subjecting said celebrity authors to scorn and ridicule. Often I bypass opportunities to mention
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 10/2/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Gay Penguin Love, Banned Books, BACA, Add a tag
Hey, guess what? It’s Banned Books Week! I love this time of year, when the librarians get all charged up about banned books. Really gets our blood pumping. There was an unfortunate incident a few years back when the name of the week was incorrectly publicized as “Ban Books Week.” Given the opportunity, librarians across the country threw out thousands of copies of Guess How Much I Love You, Madonna’s The English Roses, and entire collections of Lurlene McDaniel books. Celebrity-authored books were especially targeted, making for a good day for Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors (though BACA’s official response was “no comment.”)
Of course, now it has been made clear that Banned Books Week is a time to take a look at books that come under frequent challenges for their inclusion in public and school libraries. There are other bloggers, like Bookshelves of Doom, that cover this topic extremely well. I’d rather cover it for laughs. And I find no challenge funnier than that of And Tango Makes Three, a sweet book based on a real story of two male penguins that together raised an orphaned egg. Bottom Shelf Books just did a wonderful discussion of this title, including a video of a gay marriage statement made on their behalf — well, sort of. For my part, I’ll re-post my write-up from March of last year, if you don’t mind. The reference to the Colbert show and the specific library incident is so last year, but the rest of it remains true.
How edgy am I? Just so on the cusp of what is hot, that I selected and suggested the book And Tango Makes Three mere weeks before it appears on The Colbert Report.Apparently, a couple of parents in Missouri objected to this book being in their public library, and somehow the news feeds picked up the story. The library did not remove the book from its collection, but did move it to the nonfiction section, so it would be less likely to “blindside” somebody.
Ah, so many layers to this story. Where to even begin?
There is the sociological implication of our worries about gay penguins taking over the world. For an angry take on that, perhaps, you might go to another site, maybe Prometheus Unleashed. Though I would looooooove to go into it, that’s not what I’m about here at MotherReader.
There is the response of the library to consider, which was not wrong, but was pretty meek. I mean, two parents complain, and you move the book? What if I object that I don’t want my preschooler to inadvertently pick up a book about Noah’s Ark? Should all of those books go into the religion section? There are picture books that deal with the death of a parent or of a pet. Maybe they should all go in the section on grief? Where do you want to draw the line on what is unobjectionable? To the library’s credit, at least they didn’t get rid of the book. So that is something.
There is the mindset of the parents to explore. It is a public libary holding books for all the public. If you don’t like a book, if it offends you in some way... don’t check it out. It is really that simple. You can exercise your parental control to say, “I do not wish to read this book to my child.” So. Don’t. Read. It. To. Them.
There is the worry of introducing delicate subjects to children. Remember, parents, children will ask you questions based on what they are capable of processing, and you, as a parent, can answer accordingly. A child may listen to this book and ask why it was that two boy penguins wanted to stay together. We as parents can say, “Sometimes a man may love a man or a woman may love a woman, and they want to be together.” We do not have to go into the whole gay culture or what a man and a man do together in bed, any more then we would explain the whole bar scene or what a man and a woman do together in bed. When sex comes up with children, I would go with the “when a man and woman love each other very much...” talk, not the “when a man and a woman get drunk and they feel this special itch...” talk.
Then there is the book itself, which I stand by as a lovely, gentle story about adoption and love. You could use it as a springboard to talk about the diversity of the world, but you don’t have to do so. I would be willing to bet that four out of five preschoolers wouldn’t ask a single question about the two boy penguins. So it doesn’t need to be that worrisome. The authors told the story, they didn’t put thoughts in the penguins heads. We are making the interpretation ourselves. There is no gay penguin love agenda.
What is most important here — what we can’t forget — is how incrediblly cutting edge I am to have suggested the book in the first place.
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 8/13/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Add a tag
In light of recent events, it seemed like the BACA logo needed to be made. It pays to be married to a graphic designer.
Oh, and I’ll go ahead and reprint the original two “BACA” articles; the first, “BACA Off,” set the stage for this groundbreaking organization, and the second, “Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors (BACA),” sort of formalized it.
As founder and... what the hell, president of BACA, I probably have to talk about this whole Laura & Jenna Bush book thing. There are definitely levels of celebrity author irritation, and this announcement does hit pretty close to the top. The lowest level is for the celebrity authors whose names and books you can’t quite remember days after the press release. Like what’s-his-name with the new football picture book (I am actually thinking of a new person and picture book here). Then there are the celebrity author announcements that are so ridiculous they don’t even need the help of BACA to scorn and mock. Like ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell (though this guy did a knock-out job). Of course, the highest level of celebrity author irritation is reserved for Madonna, but specifically for her book Lotsa de Casha, in which the rich character learns that the path to happiness is in giving away his money. See, it’s the hypocrisy and sheer chutzpah that mark this book as a 10 on the BACA Irritation Scale.
Now, the Laura & Jenna Bush thing is in the high numbers, for sure. Maybe some will say that whatever else Laura Bush may be, she’s a teacher and a librarian, and that gets her off the hook. Not me. I tend to believe that her influence on children’s reading might best be served in the current political administration. After all, she was paraded around during the campaign circuit largely on her “education” credentials — which at least implies that she has some influence. Of course, that was likely just political posturing... which also makes the book annoying because then, you know, don’t rub it in. It also seems possible that the model for the “little boy” who doesn’t like to read is her husband — though if he ends up liking to read in the book, she’s obviously tacking on a “Hollywood ending.”
Personally, I feel bad that the books will illustrated by Junie B. veteran Denise Brunkus, because I love my Junie B. Jones books. But hopefully she can call up poor Kadir Nelson for moral support. 
From a post at Big A, little a, I find that Madonna has a line of children’s clothes based on her book The English Roses. That the line has been available for some time does not change the fact that I just heard about it now. And now is when I am reacting. I’m officially sick of celebrity authors.
I could complain about the quality of the work. Oh boy, could I complain. But what’s sticking in my craw is the greed. Come on, leave us our little bit of turf. If you can be famous (and usually rich) in your field of acting or music or global domination, leave the world of children’s literature for other people to become a tiny bit famous. Because you can imagine, for every book deal these celebrities strike, that’s less of the kid-lit pie for another author trying to get a break. Do celebrities have to be so greedy to take every aspect of everything because they can? Is that a good enough reason? It’s not... it’s just not... fair.
Now, I really don’t think that actors and musicians and global dominators will stay away from this tiny territory I’d like to carve off, fence in, and defend with a shotgun. But I can dream. And to that end, I initiate Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors, or BACA, and I state today, “BACA Off Kids’ Lit!”
Join if you like, if not for me, than for poor Kadir Nelson. The man deserves an author worthy of his work, and as long as the Spike Lees of the world are around, it ain’t gonna happen.
The Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors (BACA) really struck a chord out there. I’m being asked for a logo, guidelines, and a bumper sticker. Who knew?
The logo is in the works. I hope. I’ll say no more at this juncture.
Guidelines for celebrity author exceptions is tricky. I mean, first you’re letting in Lithgow, then Julie Andrews, and next thing you know Pamela Anderson’s got a book deal (title: Who’s Your Daddy?). It’s a slippery slope. The librarian host of The Magic of Books suggested allowing no exceptions for trading on name recognition, but allowing celebrities to write a book under another name. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. But I’m signing off on that rule, because it sounds good in theory.
However, I know we probably all have our personal exception, and that will be worked into the secret handshake. So, at the June membership meeting, I’ll shake your hand, wink, and say “Lithgow.” You’ll wink, and say “Julie Andrews,” or your preferred exception. Then we’ll both smile and nod knowingly. If you don’t have a preferred exception, then you can say “Carrot Top,” because that would be the funniest exception ever. (“I don’t like the work of Jamie Lee Curtis, but that Carrot Top is going places in children’s literature.”)
Fuse#8 wondered about the benefits of membership, considering the possibility that members would have free rein to whack an offending author on the head with his or her own work. While that would be lovely, it might lead to unfortunate arrests and unnecessary back strain from having to carry around all the relevant books on the off chance that one might run into Billy Joel at the corner Starbucks. So, I’m afraid I cannot endorse such actions, even though I might enjoy them.
Benefits of membership will include opportunities to display the logo on your page, to be particularly smug about celebrity authors, and to receive free soda refills at participating Wendy’s.
As BACA members, we will strive to shun celebrity authors in the blogging world. When a non-celebrity illustrator deserves to be recognized, the BACA member may wish to consider the “Spike Lee Who?” option. For instance, a blogger might note the exceptional work of Kadir Nelson by pointing out the availability of the book Please, Puppy, Please “as illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by some guy.” We will, as members, avoid giving undue publicity to celebrity authors, with the possible allowance of subjecting said celebrity authors to scorn and ridicule.
Our slogan: BACA off kids’ lit! It will look great on a bumper sticker. (NOTE: And now — as of August 13, 2007 — it does.)
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 5/21/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Book Reviews, Add a tag
It would be really helpful to me as a potential author if people would stop writing books that I was clearly intended to write.
Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank: And Other Words of Delicate Southern Wisdom, by Celia Rivenbark, is a series of humorous essays within the topics of Kids, Celebrities, Vanity, Husbands, and Southern Living. I was most a fan of Kids, but all of the book made me choke back laughter (I read a good deal of it at my daughter’s ballet class.)
The title story reflects my own irritation at this particular fashion problem of moms:
We headed for our favorite department store, ready to take that leap into the new world of 7–16. Bye-bye, 4–6X, I thought to myself with a tug of sadness. My baby was growing up.This topic is pretty standard conversations among moms who are also distressed that the first grader clothes are lumped in with the clothes for middle schoolers — and that the trend has been kind of slutty-looking stuff. But we don’t say it as funny as this:
And apparently into a prostitute.
When did this happen? Who decided that my six-year-old should dress like a Vegas showgirl? And one with an abundance of anger issues at that?But here’s where the author truly won my heart within her writing on Celebrities:
Although the endless celebrity perfume is tiresome, it’s still not so irksome as the celebrities thinking that just because they had a cameo on Baywatch one time, they’re now ready to write for kids.I think we have a new BACA member, people.
Madonna’s leading the pack with an entire series of children’s books. Whose idea was it to give Madonna a five-book kids’ book deal? What’s next? A parenting book by Michael Jackson? (What to Expect When One of us is Painfully Weird at Best or a Child Molester at Worst?)
Why does every celebrity think they should write a children’s book? Usually they’re still feeling the last bliss of the epidural when they bark at the nurse, “Call my agent! The world needs my children’s book.”
...But Madonna? Does the world really need her take on Puss’n Boots? (Then again, the original features a velvet-vested cat wearing nothing more than the vest, a smile, and some fetching thigh-high leather boots, so perhaps we have nothing to fear.)
The book is full of great lines and funny perspectives. I wasn’t familiar with the author, but she has written other books that I’ll be looking up soon. I like my kids’ lit, but I need to work in some good hearty laughs to keep my sense of humor in shape.
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 3/8/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Thoughtful Thursday, Add a tag
It appears that Jenna Bush has written a book. As founder of BACA, Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors, I know I need to come into the discussion. But I hesitated, and let me tell you why. My personal, primary reason for being against celebrity authors is that I think it’s greedy. If someone is already famous as an actor, singer, and rolling in dough, c’mon, just walk away from children’s literature. Just walk away. My secondary reason is that trading in on your famous name to get big book deals is unfair and kinda annoying.
So Jenna has a book deal. Honestly, I’d cut her some slack on both of my reasons. She’s not famous as an actor or singer and rolling in dough (though I do believe her family is pretty wealthy). She happens to be the president’s daughter, but she hasn’t already made her own personal stamp in the world. Maybe it will be in young adult fiction. I kind of doubt it, but stranger things have happened. So she’s not being greedy in bringing her career into kids’ lit as she has no actual career. Also, while she is trading in on her fame to get a book deal, it’s not her fault that she’s famous. So I’m not really sure I can blame her there either. I’m torn.
However...
The poor girl leaves herself wide open with these two statements (from her interview with USA Today):
“Jenna Bush, in a rare interview, says her forthcoming book for teens — about a 17-year-old single mother in Panama who is living with HIV — will end with a ‘call to action.’”Oh Jenna, it is terribly unlikely that coming out of the gate as a first-time author that you are going to influence people like Lois Lowry or — Lord have mercy — Anne Frank. I know that you didn’t really mean to imply that you would, but the fact that you said it at all doesn’t give me a lot of confidence in whatever you’re going to write.
“She says she ‘very, very modestly’ hopes her book will have some of the influence of two books about girls caught up in the Holocaust: Lois Lowry’s novel Number the Stars and Anne Frank’s The Diary of Anne Frank.”
As for the “call to action” line, ohmigod! Do you realize how incredibily annoying it is for people living under your dad’s uncaring, uncompassionate, uninspired polices for six freaking years to hear that you want to issue a “call to action” on social issues? You want a call to action? Start with calling your father and talking to him about single mothers, HIV, and foreign aid and then you get back to us.
Thanks to Big A, little a for the all-important BACA alert. Keep up the good work.
By: Betsy Bird,
on 2/20/2007
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Did Starring In The Grinch Teach Him Nothing?, Add a tag
There's no news like old news. I'm sure you all heard last week that Jim Carrey is planning on writing a children's book. "It's called Cynthia's New Friend. It's about how we hate change. We hate people to change because we're afraid they'll fly away." Gee, folks. I'm just glad someone had the wherewithal to write this. It's not like it's ever been written about before. By the way, Blogger needs to install a font that conveys sarcasm adequately. Could have come in handy just now.
Carrey's also looking more and more like the lead singer from Zandelle, my new favorite only-in-NYC-could-this-lack-of-irony-exist band.
Thanks to Big A little a for the harrowing news.
By: Kelly Herold,
on 2/15/2007
Blog: Crossover (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Jim Carrey, celebrity picture books, Add a tag
Guess which celebrity has "a children's book in him?" You'll be glad to hear it's Jim Carrey.
Joel Stein writes, for Time, "he's also got a children's book in him. 'It's called Cynthia's New Friend. It's about how we hate change. We hate people to change because we're afraid they'll fly away.'"
Sounds like a good one, no? It has a message! We all love that.
By: Betsy Bird,
on 2/14/2007
Blog: A Fuse #8 Production (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Roller Derby, Betsy Acknowledges Childish Attitudes, Add a tag
The Brookeshelf recently mentioned that MotherReader's Anti-Celebrity-Writer organization BACA isn't the first BACA to ever exist. There are others including, but not limited too:
BACA: Boston Association of Cabaret Artists
BACA: Baltic Air Charter Association
BACA: British Association of Clinical Anatomists
BACA: Boston Area Coffehouse Association
and of course
BACA: Bikers Against Child Abuse
Reminds me of my favorite party game Beyond Balderdash where you're given an acronym and must come up with a silly but believable use for a random smattering of letters.
As to the last acronym, Ms. Brooke proposes that it would not be out of place for the kidlit participants out there to consider having their own biker gang. I shall offer up a Roller Derby Gang counter proposal. After all, it isn't like there isn't a precedent.
By: Kelly Herold,
on 2/6/2007
Blog: Crossover (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: The Cybils, BACA, Add a tag
I have another question up over at The Cybils--this time to do with publicity. Please head on over and share your expertise and advice.
Speaking of publicity, here's another candidate for BACA to consider.
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By: Lizzy Burns,
on 2/3/2007
Blog: A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: books, reading, writing, celebrity authors, BACA, Add a tag
MotherReader is championing Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors (BACA). Not, an author who has become a celebrity because of being an awesome writer; no, rather, those celebrities who write books; and 9 out of 10 times,* it's a book for children. Actually, it's usually a picture book for children.
Of course, there is some quibbling over how those celebrity authors are identified. I love Mandy by Julie Andrews so would not include her; others champion Jamie Lee Curtis (who I personally adore as an actress, but feel her books are way too message driven for my taste; still, she has respect for children's literature, so I won't argue Curtis's omission from BACA.)
Interestingly enough, as I was wondering the criteria for a "celebrity author," I saw a post at Miss Snark that emphasized the point that in order to be a good writer, you need to be a reader: "Read. Read. And when you're done, read some more. Read what you're interested in writing for now, but also read other things too. Then read some more of what you're interested in. Don't even write. Just read." This advise is found on almost every author website, in almost every book about writing and getting published. It's part of the "prep" work needed as a writer, to make an effort to know what is out there, to read a variety, to become aware of things such as the ALSC notables lists. To just rely on the rememberings of books read in childhood; nope, not good enough. To just rely on the books you find at Target; nope, not good enough.
I would think that what the celebrity does for a living** requires preparation, whether it's singing, sports, acting. And that the good ones do what is necessary to be "best" at that particular art. So why, when it comes to books, do they act as if nothing is required except to sit down at the laptop and start typing? Or is acting and singing and baseball really that easy, that they think other things are, also?
Reading, in my humble opinion, is at the heart of why celebrities are not, for the most part, good writers. Now, I'm not saying that they are illiterate; I'm not saying that they don't read at all; but I doubt that many of them read, read, and then read some more. I doubt they treat writing a children's book the same way they treat their "real" profession.
If a celebrity author does do those things -- read, read, and read some more -- then it'll be obvious. Because the book will be good. And I'll read it and review it; not because it's a celebrity author, but because it's a book by an author who happens to be a celebrity.
Some additional notes to celebrity authors who want to be judged as authors, rather than championed as celebrities:
--Books aren't about teaching lessons. They are about good stories. In that way books are just like the movies and TV shows you make and the songs that you sing.
--It is a universal truth that you could read the phone book to your own children and they will love it; it's the attention, the being read to, the belief that they are in the story that the kids love. It's not a thumbs up to the actual story. Testing out your book on your own children doesn't count.
-- Books need to be universal. Yes, the story just for your child is sweet; a wonderful family memory; leave it at that. Why the need to share this tender moment between parent and child by publishing it? Especially because other readers will know it's not for them.
--Write about what you know.
-- Study. Find out what it is that makes good writing work.
--Take the same risks you take in your "real life" job. If you're willing to be naked (either emotionally or for real) on film, why not be willing to be naked on the page by being honest in your writing?
--Join a writing group or take a class where you can get real feedback. No, your hired assistants telling you the book is perfect don't count.
--Get an awesome editor. Trust the editor. Listen to the editor. Revise.
--Publish under a different name. Writing is one area where people can remain anonymous, at least for a short time period. Let your work live or die on it's own.
Any one else have any guidelines on how to turn a celebrity into an author?
* I am perhaps being overly generous; perhaps 99 out of a 100 is more accurate. Especially when we exclude memoirs; books written with a ghostwriter; and books that are related to the reasons why they are a celebrity.
** Paris Hilton is the exception.
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 2/1/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Poor Kadir Nelson, Secret handshake, Add a tag
The Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors (BACA) really struck a chord out there. I’m being asked for a logo, guidelines, and a bumper sticker. Who knew?
The logo is in the works. I hope. I’ll say no more at this juncture.
Guidelines for celebrity author exceptions is tricky. I mean, first you’re letting in Lithgow, then Julie Andrews, and next thing you know Pamela Anderson’s got a book deal (title: Who’s Your Daddy?). It’s a slippery slope. The librarian host of The Magic of Books suggested allowing no exceptions for trading on name recognition, but allowing celebrities to write a book under another name. Yeah, like that’s going to happen. But I’m signing off on that rule, because it sounds good in theory.
However, I know we probably all have our personal exception, and that will be worked into the secret handshake. So, at the June membership meeting, I’ll shake your hand, wink, and say “Lithgow.” You’ll wink, and say “Julie Andews,” or your preferred exception. Then we’ll both smile and nod knowingly. If you don’t have a preferred exception, then you can say “Carrot Top,” because that would be the funniest exception ever. (“I don’t like the work of Jamie Lee Curtis, but that Carrot Top is going places in children’s literature.”)
Fuse#8 wondered about the benefits of membership, considering the possibility that members would have free rein to whack an offending author on the head with his or her own work. While that would be lovely, it might lead to unfortunate arrests and unnecessary back strain from having to carry around all the relevant books on the off chance that one might run into Billy Joel at the corner Starbucks. So, I’m afraid I cannot endorse such actions, even though I might enjoy them.
Benefits of membership will include opportunities to display the logo on your page, to be particularly smug about celebrity authors, and to receive free soda refills at participating Wendy’s.
As BACA members, we will strive to shun celebrity authors in the blogging world. When a non-celebrity illustrator deserves to be recognized, the BACA member may wish to consider the “Spike Lee Who?” option. For instance, a blogger might note the exceptional work of Kadir Nelson by pointing out the availability of the book Please, Puppy, Please “as illustrated by Kadir Nelson and written by some guy.” We will, as members, avoid giving undue publicity to celebrity authors, with the possible allowance of subjecting said celebrity authors to scorn and ridicule.
Our slogan: BACA off kids’ lit! It will look great on a bumper sticker.
By: Pam Coughlan,
on 1/30/2007
Blog: MotherReader (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: BACA, Madonna's crappy books, Poor Kadir Nelson, Add a tag
From a post at Big A, little a, I find that Madonna has a line of children’s clothes based on her book The English Roses. That the line has been available for some time does not change the fact that I just heard about it now. And now is when I am reacting. I’m officially sick of celebrity authors.
I could complain about the quality of the work. Oh boy, could I complain. But what’s sticking in my craw is the greed. Come on, leave us our little bit of turf. If you can be famous (and usually rich) in your field of acting or music or global domination, leave the world of children’s literature for other people to become a tiny bit famous. Because you can imagine, for every book deal these celebrities strike, that’s less of the kid-lit pie for another author trying to get a break. Do celebrities have to be so greedy to take every aspect of everything because they can? Is that a good enough reason? It’s not... it’s just not... fair.
Now, I really don’t think that actors and musicians and global dominators will stay away from this tiny territory I’d like to carve off, fence in, and defend with a shotgun. But I can dream. And to that end, I initiate Bloggers Against Celebrity Authors, or BACA, and I state today, “BACA Off Kids’ Lit!”
Join if you like, if not for me, than for poor Kadir Nelson. The man deserves an author worthy of his work, and as long as the Spike Lees of the world are around, it ain’t gonna happen.
Your round ups are always full of juicy loveliness! Had been looking for a pic of all the Wallys/Waldos, so thank you for that in particular
“Mine were, needless to say, more akin to sturdy oaks than the svelte saplings portrayed here.” It’s lines like that that make me excited to read your upcoming books!
It’s funny that you call out “young adult” as a term; I was just thinking the other day that when I was growing up, “young adult” meant people in their twenties, and the only time it was used on teenagers was when trying to flatter them by saying they seemed older … maybe wonder if sometimes the genre as a whole does the same?
Maybe so. Certainly the term “Teen” (recognizable to patrons of all kinds) is more straightforward. Less ambiguous. Though I couldn’t blame the kid that rejects the term “Tween”. How great a term can it be if it has the word “Twee” right smack dab in the middle there?
Wow. The Hunger Games movie seems to be doing everything right so far. Impressive.
Re the term “tweens” — this apparently universally reviled, unattractive term seems to have been invented by none other than the magisterial J.R.R. Tolkien! I am re-reading “The Fellowship of the Ring” and I came upon this, smack on the first page of the first chapter:
“At that time Frodo was still in his *tweens*, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three.”
No joke. Look it up yourself. Strange!
And I want to live in the world of that picture of you in Bologna, Betsy!
Great news on the music side of hunger games. I was talking with a camera crew member this past weekend and he was kind enough to show me a couple videos of the filming he captured with his phone including a video of the filming of the initial cornucopia scene with all the tributes running to the big pile of supplies. He also told me they blew the cornucopia up last week. Very cool.
Did I ever tell you about the time James and I were walking in fron the the Metropolitan Museum of Art on a Saturday when we saw a young man dressed as Waldo walking through the crowd, complete with red balloon? We joked about how that guy might just like to dress up like that and see how many tourist photos he can manage to slip into.
Aha. Asked our English friends, and a space hopper is ” one of those bouncy balls with handles that you bounce on. ”
Don’t mention it.
Thank you!! And . . . wha??
When I heard about the Baby Lit books, I started a thread on Twitter #babylit, because surely lines in a board book are less than 140 characters!
I just HATE it when parents try to “introduce” kids to the classics before they are at an appropriate age to enjoy the classics — as if there’s something magic about the story that knowing it means a person is more educated. Classics for toddlers is taking it to the extreme utter edge of ridiculousness! (I don’t even like abridged classics, but this is crazy!)
It’s fun to make up lines for it, though:
Mr. Darcy was mean to Lizzie. But Mr. Darcy has a nice house.
Tybalt and Mercutio fight on the playground. Romeo tries to stop the fight. Oops! Mercutio is dead. Now Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo is in trouble.
Romeo is sad. He thinks Juliet is dead, but she is only pretending. Uh-oh! Romeo, don’t drink that poison! Oops! Too late!
Can you say “inappropriate,” boys and girls?
And the WSJ thought YA was getting too dark!