They can’t continually tour as easily, meet with local booksellers and schools, or promote themselves to the same degree. Imported authors, even if they originally write in the English language, are at a strict disadvantage in America. Hardinge attain all the sales and awards she deserves is deeply satisfying.

It’s amazing what a gorgeous cover and a dedicated sales team can do (particularly when it comes from the company that brought the world Diary of a Wimpy Kid). It wasn’t until Abrams decided to dedicate themselves heart and soul to her publicity that things took a turn for the better. And so America stopped publishing her altogether while in Europe her star was on a continual rise. She didn’t slot neatly into categories either. Appropriate for middle grade readers but with complex texts more akin to the tastes and preferences of YA, she fell into that nebulous grayscape where no one knew how to market her. publishing scene with Harper Collins a little less than a decade ago, the company wasn’t quite sure what to do with her. I love Helquist but maybe he wasn’t the perfect fit for this series.Īmerica’s current love affair with Hardinge is particularly satisfying since it comes after so much time. Things you never even thought would come to pass pop up and even though you didn’t have diddly over squat to do with them (see: Winged Girl of Knossos & Frances Hardinge) you feel some odd sense of accomplishment. You can always find something new to put on it.

That’s the nice thing about a To Do list. Get America to now appreciate Monster Blood Tattoo.Watch America finally come to grips with the true glory that is Frances Hardinge.Get The Winged Girl of Knossos back in print.

Monster blood tattoo series