“Possibly. But I would think an existing Horn fan would be completely uninterested in a kids’ book because, you know, no boobies.”

Maybe not, but a fan of kid’s books would certainly be interested in graphic art by Horn and Fabry. I was surprised by some of the blood and guts situations, but I liked it. Kids’ books are usually too nice. I reviewed a galley in prep for the ComicCon. If you want to know what a 13 yr old middle-schooler thinks of it, check out:
http://www.kidreviewer.com/2008/04/anna-smudge-professional-shrink-cool.html

And of course, I give credit and link to the sites of the awesome artists involved.

Nick Chance, KidReviewer

And actually . . . I would probably pick that book up off of that cover! I think perhaps, as Tim pointed out, the press release is mainly an example of terrible marketing. But the cover screams, “I’m different!”

I’ll be keeping an eye out for it; picking through the atrociousness of the press release wording, there’s still potential here, and I like to keep in mind things like oh . . . some of the marketing material I’ve seen on my own books that made me want to scream, “I didn’t write that!”

Publishers sometimes seem to have a knack of missing the point of their books completely.

http://www.projo.com/lifebeat/content/lb_pop_culture_therapy_03-08-08_AC991HI_v14.20070d2.html

If I thought Greg Horn’s artwork for superhero covers were atrocious, then I think his artwork for a teen comic atrocious and creepy.

Segueing from busty super-villainess to kids comics, even creepier.

An 11-eleven year who is the top psychologist in Manhattan? Beyond ridiculous.

I guess this book will be a pass for me.

And then again, how many unpublished comic books gets mentioned in an AP story in the same breath as Gabriel Byrne and Lorraine Bracco?

And finally, you’re trying to create buzz for a book and there’s not even a website for Toasted Coconut Media (that I can find…)?

Rivkah, I’m so with you — too many people think “for kids” means talking down or simplifying, when classic kids’ books are some of the most complex out there. (Like Alice in Wonderland.)

And plenty of superstars try other aspects of their field. Serious actors try comedy, comedic actors try drama. Novelists try screenplays. Trying different things is a sign of a creative soul.

Considering the professions mentioned, this sounds more like an adult humor comic with kids filling as the protagonists. And whomever thought “bona fide profession” would be a great phrase to use in a press release for a children’s series needs to spend a little more time with real kids.

Sometimes I get this idea that some people view children’s and young adult entertainment as the easy road to take, not realizing that kids and teens are far more picky about their entertainment than adults will ever be and that the genre is, in fact, one of the most difficult and demanding groups to write for.

Wacky and wonky doesn’t necessarily mean kids will like it.

*goes back to editing “Jane’s S.O.S.” while bashing head against keyboard in misery* sooooooooon . . . soon it will be done . . . O_O