Inside the Australian and New Zealand book industry

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Introducing Scribble

Scribe Publications’ picture book imprint, Scribble, is ‘a vibrant, eclectic list of illustrated books for children’ that combines ‘editorial expertise with innovative design and production’. Publisher Miriam Rosenbloom spoke to Think Australian.

What makes Scribble unique?

We combine our editorial expertise with innovative design and production. I came to children’s publishing by way of design. I spent 15 years designing book covers for the adult market in Melbourne and London, including a stint at Faber where I commissioned and art-directed a lot of illustration. I am passionate about showcasing Australian talent, both locally and internationally. I published two picture books under Scribe’s general imprint before launching Scribble in April 2016 after the birth of my daughter.

How many books does Scribble publish each year—and what kinds of books?

We publish six to eight books a year, and at this stage we’re just working on picture books.

Have you sold international rights to your books?

We have had a great run with our international sales. We’ve sold a number of rights overseas, including the rights for debut author/illustrators such as Daniel Gray-Barnett’s Grandma Z, which caused quite a stir at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair last year and has since sold into North America, France and Spain.

Which titles have been most successful overseas?

Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys’ debut, The Underwater Fancy-Dress Paradehas won numerous awards in Australia and has sold into many territories overseas: China, Bulgaria, Spain, France and Italy, and will be published by Abrams in North America this March with the title Captain Starfish. This duo keep getting better and better, and we’re extremely excited to be presenting their latest book, All the Ways to Be Smart, this year at Bologna. We are also excited about selling world rights (ex ANZ) to Phaidon for Antonia Pesenti’s debut, Rhyme Cordial (to be published as Rhyme Flies by Phaidon)—an oversize board book with an innovative lift-the-flap design and hilarious wordplay.

Which title or author on your list do you believe deserves bigger recognition overseas?

Kat Patrick and Lauren Marriott’s ‘Doodle Cat’ series has such a vibrant and hilariously modern main character that it is surprising it hasn’t been snapped up in more territories. We’re publishing the third installment in 2019—Doodle Cat Wears a Cape.

Have you acquired the rights to publish any international titles in Australia? What have been the most successful?

We have published Riikka Jäntti’s fabulous ‘Little Mouse’ series from Tammi in Finland. ‘Little Mouse’ is a deceptively traditional-looking picture book series that tells the story of a working single-mum mouse and her cheeky son. Exquisitely familiar for parents and kids, the titles from the series have twice been chosen as the Times’ children’s book of the week.

What will you publish next (that may appeal to international publishers)?

As previously mentioned, Bell and Colpoys’ third collaboration, All the Ways to be Smart, which we publish in October this year, should arouse interest.

We also have a fantastic project using photography rather than illustration. I have long been interested in the narrative possibilities of photography with picture books—there was a lot of publishing in this area in the 1960s and 1970s, but in later decades photography has largely been relegated to nonfiction reference use. We have an amazing collaboration between author Jane Godwin, artist Beci Orpin and photographer Hilary Walker, Watch This!, which follows a group of kids using their bodies to make shapes. ‘Sesame Street meets Bauhaus’ was our initial elevator pitch!

As well, we have another debut picture book, Wrenfrom author Katrina Lehman and illustrator Sophie Beer. Wren tells the story of a small and quiet boy who finds himself in the middle of a very noisy family. Beer’s illustrations are fabulous and should have a broad appeal.

 

Category: Think Junior profile