Publishing course launches new career

A recent University of Melbourne graduate has secured a prestigious book deal with a major publisher to tell fictionalised accounts of children’s real life experiences in war zones.

Lyn White spent more than 20 years as a primary school teacher and librarian in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, but has long dreamt of becoming a children’s publisher.

She used long service leave in 2010 to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Editing and Communication), and her dream is now on the verge of becoming reality.

 

Independent publishing powerhouse Allen and Unwin has contracted Ms White to act as Series Creator and Editor for a six-book project she had devised while completing her studies.

“They offered me the publishing deal in late December,” she says. “It was a pretty amazing Christmas present.”

In 2010, the Publishing and Communications Program helped Ms White arrange an editorial internship at the Books for Children and Young Adults division of Penguin Group Australia (Penguin Books).

The head of the Publishing and Communications Program, Bryony Cosgrove, says all students are able to meet and learn from publishing industry leaders.

“The internship program has links with over 150 organisations, which means students gain valuable hands-on experience by working closely with industry mentors. They observe the broader dynamics of the publishing and communications industries”.

“Walking into the Penguin building on my first day I was quite overwhelmed,” says Ms White.

“I realised it was where many of the books I had read to my students had been created. The creative energy was palpable.”

After completing the usual tasks assigned to any intern - including appraising manuscripts and copyediting - Ms White was challenged to come up with an idea for a new series of children’s books.

She decided she wanted to tell the stories of children who had spent time in war zones. The books she envisioned would be character-driven but based on meticulous research.

“Unlike some other books, the stories in my series would be set in contemporary war zones, with conflict, culture and identity being presented through the eyes of the child protagonist,” Ms White says.

The idea had come, at least in part, from Ms White’s interactions with migrant children from war-affected countries during her time as a suburban English teacher.

“It was a really strong concept,” remembers Susie Gibson, Ms White’s internship supervisor at Penguin Books.

“It crossed the boundary between fictional war tales and real life stories, and Lyn really put her heart and soul into it.”

While at Penguin, Ms White had the opportunity to meet many senior staff members and broaden her understanding of how the publishing industry operates.

“Publishing is about 90 per cent grunt, and 10 per cent glamour,” Ms Gibson says.

Lyn White then presented her proposal to literary agent, Jacinta di Mase.

“What a fabulously accomplished proposal and a truly fascinating and important subject,” Ms di Mase wrote at the time.

“It is no surprise that this project moved from the hypothetical to real so quickly.”

“You obviously have a real talent for perceiving a need in the market and the skill to create a project that will bring delight, information, and many opportunities for discussion to readers, their teachers and parents.”

Ms di Mase helped Ms White to refine her idea, make contact with key people in trade and education publishing, and contact prospective authors.

“This turned out to be the most exciting and humbling part of this whole incredible journey,” Ms White says.

“The response was overwhelmingly positive from all the authors despite the fact that I was completely unknown.”

The next step was to find a willing publisher.

“So, armed with my proposal presentation which now included authors, story synopses, educational links, marketing plans, format and costings, I sent my work to a few selected publishers with a deadline for offers.”

“Having received significant interest from both Penguin and Allen & Unwin I received the most amazing Christmas present when Eva Mills, Publisher for Books and Teenagers at A&U, sent me an offer for my series on December 23rd!”

“Lyn’s was an extremely strong and well rounded proposal,” says Eva Mills, who also guest lectures in the Publishing and Communication Program.

 “We’re always on the lookout for good work,” she says.

“And being involved in tertiary courses is a way of making sure that talented people think of us.”

“We get a lot of value out of our relationships with Melbourne universities.”

Ms White believes the training and mentoring she received during her 12 months at the University of Melbourne helped her success.

“The strong vocational nature of the course, the integrity and professionalism of the lecturers was so affirming and inspiring,” she says.

Bryony Cosgrove describes Ms White’s success as a “great coup” that will enhance the respect publishing industry professionals have for the University of Melbourne’s Publishing and Communications Program.

It’s Not My War is tentatively scheduled for release in June 2013, with subsequent releases throughout 2014-15.

www.culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au