I guess this example illustrates that our efforts, no matter how strenuous, aren't working. We need some help. Any suggestions?
UPDATE - okay as my SO pointed out, books are often known by their titles or main characters, especially amongst children. Hairy McLairy, or Maori Legends, or the Wheels on the Bus would be remembered before the people behind them are. I don't think this is a complete rationale or excuse though. Is there ever a teaching focus on NZ writers in primary schools? Is it in the curriculum? I would love to know.
UPDATE 2.0 - of course the more I think about it, the more I have to acknowledge how much name recognition is about branding. I get branding. However while I pursue branding on the one hand, for me I make the whole issue so much more complicated for myself by not having a series or sticking to one style/genre/age group. I can't assume that readers who like my short stories or my picture books will necessarily graduate to my longer works. And I have contemporary and historical time slip and my picture books are all stand alones and do I need to build name recognition for each one? Okay I'm tired just thinking about it - I'm off to have a lie down and a cup of tea and then work on my next novel which is completely different to anything that has come before - sigh.
UPDATE - okay as my SO pointed out, books are often known by their titles or main characters, especially amongst children. Hairy McLairy, or Maori Legends, or the Wheels on the Bus would be remembered before the people behind them are. I don't think this is a complete rationale or excuse though. Is there ever a teaching focus on NZ writers in primary schools? Is it in the curriculum? I would love to know.
UPDATE 2.0 - of course the more I think about it, the more I have to acknowledge how much name recognition is about branding. I get branding. However while I pursue branding on the one hand, for me I make the whole issue so much more complicated for myself by not having a series or sticking to one style/genre/age group. I can't assume that readers who like my short stories or my picture books will necessarily graduate to my longer works. And I have contemporary and historical time slip and my picture books are all stand alones and do I need to build name recognition for each one? Okay I'm tired just thinking about it - I'm off to have a lie down and a cup of tea and then work on my next novel which is completely different to anything that has come before - sigh.
1 comment:
You got me thinking now. Cos I love The Gruffalo but offhand and without googling - I can't tell you who wrote it! LOL!! But I know Jacqueline Wilson and JK Rowling! LOL!
Sorry don't think this post is helping but I have a feeling the media reporting has a lot to do about name recognition. I know celeb's names only because they are written about everyday, in ever newspaper in every magazine in the news, on tv etc.etc. infinitum. And we are talking children here and in this day and age - TV/internet is king and queen and unless authors' names are mentioned here everyday, the kids just won't know. I think so anyway! And unless their books have been made into films/tv series/toys - something visual - there's even less chance of name recognition. Now off I go to google the Gruffalo!
Take care
x
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