shameless snark promotion

[mahendra]

I've been doing a GN version of the Snark for almost 2 years, posting it on my blog as I go along and I've recently finished drawing the Preface, Fit the First and Fit the Second. It's available as a PDF for download here www.mediafire.com/?5940por3sgm

or here justtheplaceforasnark.blogspot.com/2008/05/preface-and-fits-one-and-two-in-their.html

Any comments or criticisms are very much welcomed … I know how enthusiastiac most Snarquistes are! Oddly enough, the most popular posting on my Snark blog was the Assamese Snark Curry. Apparently, snark hunting is hungry work. Perhaps other readers have similar snark recipes?

Cheers! Mahendra

[jenny2write]

I liked this very much. Is it available in printed form? Would make a nice gift for someone I know.
I think many of the pictures perfectly catch the essence of the book - and definitely make one think of Snarks - whatever they may be ;-)

[mahendra]

Thanks, Jenny. I'm searching for a publisher and that is a snark hunt in itself! I'm focussing more on British/Commonwealth pubs as it seems most North American pubs are uninterested in LC.

If all else fails, I'll print it on my own dime, in about a year, with the commentary probably! Onward with forks & hope!

cheers, mahendra

[johntufail]

Hi Mahendra,

Your comment on North American publishers being relatively uninterested in Carroll surprises me. There is certainly far more academic interest in Carroll in The States than in the UK and, I suspect ,more general interest in Carroll too. I hae noticed, for example, that US authors are more likely to seriously allude to Carroll's work than UK authors (excepting, for some reason Ireland - which of course is not part of the UK but is treated, in literary terms, as if it were (literary imperialism?)).

[mahendra]

Hi John,

The academia side of the publishing world seems a bit more open-minded, internationally, I think. All I can say is pitching Lewis Carroll to American/Canadian commericial publishers is an exhausting, depressing business. The commercial pub world is retracting intellectually at a fast rate these days. I've also pitched to some UK houses, it takes several months to get replies, as I'm sure you know.

I would wager several years' (meager) earnings that AIW or TTLG would never be accepted for publication, cold & over the transom, in North America today. Carroll would have to have a proven track record writing pablum for preteens before anyone would entertain the 1st draft, and you can be sure that his agent/editor would pressure for substantial changes.

I think this would be an excellent thread topic for others to weigh in: commercial/academic attitudes to Carroll, US vs UK, etc.,

[johntufail]

Hi Mahendra,

I agree. There has been much debate about the closed natureof commecial publishin these days - especially in childrens literature. Apparently the 'hot' thing these days is for publishers to approach 'celebrities' (sports stars, pop singers etc) to front a book that is then ghost written. This ensures mega sales apparently. What else it does leaves little to the imagination!

You're right when you say I probably know how difficult it is to find a publisher interested in genuine Carroll scholarship. I'e been trying for over 10 years to interest a publisher in a book on the Snark - despite the fact that so little has been written, in an analyrical way, on the Snark. So yes, I'd welcome extending this discussion, if only fo the fact that It'll ive me a chance to moan!

Regards

JT

[mahendra]

Hello, John,

Yes, indeed! Moan away, I shall join you.

My Snark project began as a proposal, solicited by the publisher themselves, a major NY house. In fact, I pitched 3 texts in all: the Snark, a really lovely Indian pastoral/romantic verse play called Shakuntala, and the Brothers Grimm.

None of these were found to be of interest to non-adult readers. The mind, as they say, boggles. What do contemporary editors think is suitable for children & teenagers anymore? Naturally, not all of them might enjoy the Snark, but the vast majority of publishers seem to think that an elitist approach to literature is commercially (and perhaps philosophically) fatal.

I have 2 kids, one was fascinated by Lewis Carroll and Shakuntala and the Bros. Grimm and still reads voraciously. The other detests Lewis Carroll, prefers contemporary childrens adventure lit, and also reads voraciously. Yet the former is neglected by current publishers, the latter is cultivated and the end result? Lessening revenues, coarsening intellects.

I suspect every person reading this message has a wonderful childhood memory of discovering Lewis Carroll for the first time and being absolutely smitten. It's a pity that so many children, through no fault of their own, are deprived of such intellectual and emotional joys at such an important age.

To be honest, at times, I do wish someone like JK Rowling would use their considerable clout to alleviate this situation somewhat.