Since my first publications were written on assignment, I wrote mostly with the editor in mind. She set me the word count and specifics of the story, and I filled in the creative blanks. Imagine my surprise when it started to sell and I found out who was reading the Baby Bible Storybook! Babies loved the thick pages and grandmas loved the exceedingly cute art. I assumed someone read the words, as well. It sold a whole lot of copies (and the words “on assignment” mean I did not make a “whole lot” of money) and spent time on the Best Seller list in its particular category. I wrote variations like Baby Bible Animals and Baby Bible ABC without a lot of further thought for the chubby little hands that would hold it.
My awakening came when some books in the series were translated into other languages: French, Portuguese, Indonesian.
The picture shows a Spanish copy I hand delivered to a mission in Costa Rica.
Then I had a letter with the Arabic version (printed, of course, back to front!) stating that this particular translation would be used to teach reading to rural Egyptian children who would have no other books or schooling. It took my breath away!
So I hold one image of my reader, but wait to be delighted by where the words end up.
Robin this was an amazing post! Very cool. And i like how in the first paragraph you talked about how your imagined audience has changed, yet you illustrate how you never know who that could end up being!
ReplyDeleteRobin I feel you have continuosly held back from bragging on the successess of your bible stories. At first when you said you wrote bible stories, I assumed you wrote them for the children in your congregation. Now a year later, I'm finding out that you hand delivered them to children in Costa Rica and they are in several translations!
ReplyDeleteThis really is a fasinating story and I really wish you would give it up all at once, instead of giving us little tiny bit, by little tiny bit.
By the way, I love how excited you look in the picture.