Adding Zest to the Sneak Peek Reviewers Club
RSSChristianne Selig, teen librarian, San Leandro (CA) Public Library
One of the coolest things about having our teens write reviews for SLJTeen is that they get to meet people like Nikki Roddy, Zest Books' marketing and research manager. Last month, Nikki stopped by a meeting of the Sneak Peek Reviewers Club at our library to give the kids an insiders' view of the publishing biz. Based in San Francisco, Zest Books is a small independent publisher of nonfiction books for young adults. Name a topic that teens are interested in, and Zest has probably published a book about it. Dating, bullying, sex, driving, school, parties, and fashion are just some of the topics that are covered in their edgy, colorful books. Teens who are interested in book publishing don't necessarily have to be writers or editors, said Nikki. There's also a need for photographers, designers, public relations specialists, and sales reps. Being in book publishing often means long hours and low pay, cautioned Nikki, but for people who are passionate book lovers, it's a great way to make a living. She urged our Sneak Peekers to keep reading and writing, and to consider finding internships or part-time jobs at bookstores, libraries, and publishing houses. While Nikki admitted she never considered a job in publishing when she was a teen, the job has brought her a lot of personal satisfaction. This article originally appeared in School Library Journal's enewsletter SLJTeen. Subscribe here. Christianne, what a fantastic idea! How can I get a similar club started here for MY students? Hi Nancy,
We were chosen to write reviews for SLJ Teen because we are one of YALSA's Teens' Top Ten galley review groups. Check out this link: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/yagalley
I know YALSA will be accepting applications for new galley review groups in Spring 2012.--Chris * = Required information
Nikki introduced our teens to the lifecycle of a Zest book, which they learned can take about a year from the spark of a great idea to the distribution and sale of the actual book. During the editing process, Zest involves teen interns and a teen advisory board. According to Nikki, one of the teens' main roles is to help the books feel authentic, by making sure the books have a conversational tone and up-to-date slang.
Reader Comments (3)
Posted by Nancy on November 17, 2011 09:12:16AM
Posted by Chris Selig on November 23, 2011 04:26:44PM
