tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post2266205583082183833..comments2024-03-25T09:56:16.164+00:00Comments on An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: The Noble Art of Laureateship - Lucy CoatsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-86067745283379948532011-04-27T14:18:30.218+01:002011-04-27T14:18:30.218+01:00I read today that Wstone's may be safe in the ...I read today that Wstone's may be safe in the arms of Tim Wstone and a Russian Oligarch who loves books. Good for them if so...would hate to lose the chain.adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-22629206508878487242011-04-26T16:39:30.523+01:002011-04-26T16:39:30.523+01:00One way to get a spokesman would be to elect a cha...One way to get a spokesman would be to elect a chairman of the SAS - not to boss us around, but to be a trusted representative for contact with the media.Keren Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13121027210783177857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-75117596764306723382011-04-26T13:31:26.559+01:002011-04-26T13:31:26.559+01:00oh dear, oh dear - it doesn't sit well, does i...oh dear, oh dear - it doesn't sit well, does it, Lucy? But did we notice that Waterstones were the sole sponsors of the 2009-11 Children's Laureate award?<br /><br />Anne, I agree, perhaps we should go back to the BookTrust for a SPOKESPERSON?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05253573780465147312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-85842672699633856232011-04-26T13:21:32.924+01:002011-04-26T13:21:32.924+01:00A very worrying move. What if the laureate wants t...A very worrying move. What if the laureate wants to make a big issue of supporting independent bookshops, or public libraries? Will they be allowed to do so? Will Waterstone's be given the inside track on supporting the laureate's books? On hosting the events that are part of the laureate's commitment?<br /><br />And how come the Poet Laureate isn't also being rebranded? I quite like the sound of the "Bloodaxe Poet Laureate" - to be remunerated in the traditional manner, with two crates of Diet Coke and a slap-up meal at Nando's.Cathy Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03838615971611193743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-30662650763087323682011-04-26T13:06:23.064+01:002011-04-26T13:06:23.064+01:00I share your reservations, Lucy. The laureateship ...I share your reservations, Lucy. The laureateship for adult poetry was always an honour, it would be odd to have a corporate sponsor for it. The children's laureateship has so far been given to authors who have a strong body of work of literary merit behind them and have got to the prize-winning stage of their career. But Waterstone's doesn't deal in bodies of work, they deal in the brand new, and good books go O/P because Waterstone's won't stock and promote them. If they sponsor the laureateship and several of the laureate's books are O/P, for example (which would be quite normal, look at Doris Lessing just before she won the Nobel), that would make no sense. <br />And yes - whither Waterstone's? Very good question. How come they have cash to flash on this kind of thing anyway? And how much longer will they have it?Leilahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02890097085059764567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-15678453336460796852011-04-26T11:05:18.259+01:002011-04-26T11:05:18.259+01:00I think the laureat 'role' has always been...I think the laureat 'role' has always been a kind of honor role. Given for works done so to speak. The fact that one or two of them used it as a platform was, I think, a plus. I fear though that the 'laureatship' is not really a kind of 'champion' of children's lit and all issues relating to it. WE ACTUALLY need someone whose role is to be a spokeperson for us and I don't think we have it and I don't think we can expect it of the 'laureat' who's been given this honour for their work.<br />How do we get such a SPOKESPERSON? That's the question.Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06677754304058294713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-11331527099479052732011-04-26T10:21:30.820+01:002011-04-26T10:21:30.820+01:00Yes, Adele--I should have said that. It is indeed...Yes, Adele--I should have said that. It is indeed an honour as well. And you're quite right to ask the question about whither Waterstone's too. I hoped someone might--I think we do need to have this discussion. <br /><br />Kath--I think the 'powers that be' on the committee hadn't much choice but to agree, given the financial constraints they are now under.Lucy Coatshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774389681477698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-47739986131681185432011-04-26T10:14:10.652+01:002011-04-26T10:14:10.652+01:00Golly, I missed this. And who decides? Who has h...Golly, I missed this. And who decides? Who has had the power to agree to a corporate semi-takeover like this, I wonder?Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780182174577095197.post-87917704804456269972011-04-26T10:11:21.702+01:002011-04-26T10:11:21.702+01:00Agree with much of what you say, Lucy, but as well...Agree with much of what you say, Lucy, but as well as AMBASSADORIAL the post is an HONOUR which ought to be awarded for LITERARY/ARTISTIC merit. I'm afraid that commercial considerations might enter into the decision rather more than they have up to now. Who knows? But the really interesting question is: WHITHER WATERSTONE'S and what happens to the Laureateship if it goes to the wall? We must all hope that doesn't happen for all sorts of reasons..,adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.com