Mark Sommerset
“I often receive messages and sometimes photos of families sharing, laughing along with, or acting out the Baa Baa books…
Sometimes, people write saying a book like Two Little Bugs or The Boy and the Cherry Tree helped to bridge an emotional, or other issue, with a child. And once, at a market on Waiheke, I met a woman who told me that the copy of Cork on the Ocean her sister had sent her one Christmas had helped her to see beyond some very difficult and unhappy circumstances and inspired her to move and start a new life.
I’ve just released Bedtime Blast-off, the third and final Baa Baa book, and it’s been lovely to see children enjoying its humour. The subject matter does seem to resonate with kids. Children love the idea of a taboo topic. Adults can be awkward about bodily functions, so the humour in the Baa Baa books can feel surprising and hilarious as a result (poo is taboo)! But seriously, I think that books, with age-appropriate content, can contribute to making it okay to talk about something that is just a normal part of life. More than that, funny stories that pique children’s interest can be important when it comes to establishing healthy reading habits. Over the years, I’ve heard from people who have told me their children – sometimes as old as seven or eight – were just not interested in reading until they discovered Baa Baa Smart Sheep.
The books I write are indie or self-published which involves a lot of work: writing, editing, managing the print process, promotion, selling – and lots more. Copyright is vital when it comes to making a living from creative endeavours. Without it, anyone could replicate or share your work and you might receive nothing for your time, imagination, and effort.
From time-to-time organisations, and people generally, want to use the books I write. When a school wants to perform a book, or someone wants to video their child reading my writing, I’m usually comfortable with this. Copyright law also means most professional organisations reach out for permission to use all or part of a book, which gives me some control over where my work ends up and how it is used, while protecting my ability to earn a living from it.
You never really know where your books are going to strike a long-lasting chord. Currently, Korea, France and Italy are still very active with the books I’ve written. Managing international rights sales is something I do too, and this usually means getting in front of publishing partners at international book fairs. Sometimes, I supply an international publisher finished product of a book in their own language. This can be more lucrative than a traditional rights sale and royalty arrangement, but it’s also a lot more work. And because I want to focus on the creative side, I have gravitated more to traditional royalty arrangements.
To me, each of these international editions has been special or exciting – it feels good to remember that the books I write are being enjoyed by people in different cultures, in different parts of the world. It’s rewarding to know that the work I create means something to other people.”
Mark Sommerset is the author of Bedtime Blast-off, Baa Baa Smart Sheep and many other books.