ADVICE FOR AUTHORS

Beyond the Book: Transmedia Storytelling

The Jewish Book Council gathers together authors, illustrators, publishers, and agents

 By Mark Levine

Educational publishing is in the midst of reinventing itself, through technology. This was my message to approximately 50 authors and illustrators who gathered together at the Twelfth Annual Jewish Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Conference held at the Center for Jewish History, New York, in late November. The conference, sponsored by the Jewish Book Council, is an opportunity for them to network with editors, agents, and publishers.

As Executive Editor here at Behrman House and part of the Behrman House Consulting Group, I was invited to speak, along with panelists including Stephanie Lurie, Editorial Director at Disney-Hyperion (“How to Expand the Reach of Your Jewish Children’s Book”) and Elana Roth of Caren Johnson Literary Agency (“The Agent-Author Relationship”).

It was a treat for me. At Behrman House we’re used to having educators, rabbis, organizational leaders, and parents as our audience. This time it was Jewish children’s writers and illustrators, all trying to understand how best to captivate others with Jewish stories, experiences, and learning.

My topic was “Writing for the Evolving Religious School Market”—the impact of technology on classroom education. I challenged the writers to think about transmedia storytelling, which creates storylines that enable readers to enter a story from multiple platforms,for example, books, blogs, video, online games.

I was honored to be greeted at the end of the session by a long line of writers and illustrators, interested in how they might pitch transmedia ideas to Behrman House.

Do you know talented authors, illustrators, digital developers, even graphic designers? Please encourage them to contact us. We are always looking to work with new creative and innovative thinkers and practitioners.