12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Podcast 037 - Jess Townes: Bookseller by Day, Ninja by Night #podcast

The Life of a Ninja Bookseller Not only does Jess Townes write incredible picture books, but she's also a Critique Ninja in the 12 x 12 membership AND she's a buyer at an independent bookstore! Jess joins Julie and Kelli in this podcast episode to chat about tips for revising your manuscript and what she thinks picture book creators need to know about the bookselling side of the children's publishing industry. Here's what you'll discover in this episode: Tips Jess gives 12 x 12 members for writing and revising their manuscripts What she looks for when giving critiques How to use real-life interactions can inspire your picture book What it's like to have publishers pitch YOU the books on their list The different ways kids attach to books How she works with her fellow bookseller to choose what they sell in the bookstore What came first: the author or the bookseller How being a bookseller inspires what she writes When booksellers start making purchase decisions for winter holiday sales What happens if your book comes out after the big purchases are made What does it mean when your book is remaindered How important holiday books are to booksellers The advantage of speaking directly to customers What is a shelf-talker and how it helps sell books The importance of author/bookseller relationships When to call a bookstore if you're going to be in the area How to approach a bookstore when you'd like them to carry your book What to do if you want to have an event at a store How this bookstore decides which self-published books to carry If bookstore events sell books What sells more than author events How pre-order campaigns impact independent bookstores Why you should coordinate with a local bookstore when doing author visits at schools and other locations What to take into consideration if you're trying to schedule bookstore events If there is an audience for picture books that aren't attached to popular characters or intellectual property Books mentioned in this episode: Groundhog Gets It Wrong by Jess Townes and Nicole Miles https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97805933... Spellbound by Jess Townes and Jennifer Harney https://mainstreetbooks.indielite.org... Sometimes I Cry by Jess Townes and Daniel Miyares https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97803743... Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97808037... Three Little Witches and the Spooky Old House by Peggy Archer and Gaia Bordicchia Not So Ordinary Ornaments by Paige Hulsey (coming soon, illustrator to be announced) https://mainstreetbooks.indielite.org... Butt or Face by Kari Lavelle https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97817282... Millie Fleur's Pumpkin Problem by Christy Mandin https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97982250... Does a Bulldozer Have a Butt? by Derek Wilder and K-Fai Steele https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97814521... Julie Andrews: A Little Golden Book by Christy Webster and Sue Cornelison https://mainstreetbooks.indielite.org... Song After Song: The Musical Life of Julie Andrews by Julie Hedlund and Ilaria Urbinati https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97814998... After the Fall by Dan Santat https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97816267... Shy by Julie Andrews, Emma Walton Hamilton, and Eva Byrne https://bookshop.org/a/11334/97814197... Links mentioned in this episode: Jess works at Main St. Books in Charleston, Missouri https://mainstreetbooks.indielite.org/ The Adult Book Fair Kelli mentioned is put on Magic City Books in Tulsa https://mainstreetbooks.indielite.org/ Emma Walton Hamilton's podcast episode on turning a real-life event into a picture book https://12x12challenge.com/podcast-em... Find out more about Jess Townes and her books on her website https://jesstownes.com/ If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe, and review so other kidlit writers can find us! Thank you for listening! #kidlitpodcast #picturebooks #amwriting #picturebook #bookseller #indiebookstore #bookstore #author