Who needs the big publishers?

Every once in a while we hear of a self-publishing story that makes us wonder whether the face of publishing is really changing. Jason Spencer-Edwards is the latest example of a writer who has found fame, and a livable income, by publishing books that appeal to tweens and teens in urban settings. He writes stories that tell of teens going through the hard times and triumphs of city life and he writes them in a style that reaches youngsters whether they are readers or not. More than that, he managed to convince the New York City School system to put his books on their purchase lists. That's the real secret of his success--writing books that reach their intended audience and then persuading adults gatekeepers to make them available. The books are not only bought by the schools and used in classrooms and libraries, but Mr. Spencer-Edwards also visits schools and talks to students about his stories. It's this in-person contact that makes his audience into fans of his books and most likely other books too. While editors in most of the big publishing houses hedge their bets by buying manuscripts that echo successful books, it's people like Mr. Spencer-Edwards who are bringing fresh new ideas and viewpoints and finding new audiences. Let's hope some big publisher takes a chance and makes these books available around the country and around the world. Not all young people are looking for yet one more series of pseudo-twilight fantasy.