Oct
28
Publishing Doldrums
The UK was a busy trip for us, four days in Lichfield to see the family, a couple of nights in Oxford, and finally five days in London before heading back to Japan. I wrapped things up with a meeting with my children's book agent in London. Naturally I wanted to hear some good news that would encourage me to come running back to the old country, but all was gloom and doom.
"In 40 years in the publishing business I've never known it so bad for illustrators" I was told. She even suggested if I return to the UK I should consider taking a regular job just to get by. Great, just what I needed to hear.
As an example she described a meeting she had with one of the biggest publishers in the country, and asked how many picture books they released a year.
"In 40 years in the publishing business I've never known it so bad for illustrators" I was told. She even suggested if I return to the UK I should consider taking a regular job just to get by. Great, just what I needed to hear.
As an example she described a meeting she had with one of the biggest publishers in the country, and asked how many picture books they released a year.