327. Jonathan Merkh President Forefront Books, #2 Fastest Growing Publisher in the US
Jonathan Merkh is the President and Publisher at Forefront Books. Andrea Fleck-Nesbit, president of the Independent Book Publishers Association and a previous podcast guest, introduced Merkh to the host.
Merkh previously served as vice president and publisher at Thomas Nelson Publishers, led Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, and Guidepost. Jonathan has published nearly 100 New York Times bestsellers. In 2023, Publishers Weekly recognized Forefront Books as the second fastest-growing publisher in the United States, and Inc. Magazine included Forefront Books among the nation’s top fastest-growing companies.
In this episode, we discuss the history of publishing, the need to have a platform as an author, the specialty niche that Forefront Books specializes in, and tips for writers of fiction and nonfiction.
Learn more at forefrontbooks.com.
328. Volume 41 winners: Robert Lowell, Jordan Smajstrla, CL Fors, and Ian Keith
These four winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala: Robert Lowell, author of “Kill Switch”; Jordan Smajstrla, illustrator of “Kill Switch”; CL “Cherrie” Fors, illustrator of “A World of Repetitions”; Ian Keith, author of “Blackbird Stone.”
We discuss their journey as creative individuals and what makes the workshop so special for them and what Writers and Illustrators of the Future means to them and to the genre.
329. Volume 41 winners: David Hoffrichter, Lauren McGuire, Barlow Crassmont, and Patrick MacPhee
These four winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala: David Hoffrichter, illustrator of “The Rune Witch”; Lauren McGuire, author of “Karma Birds”; Barlow Crassmont, author of “The Boy from Elsewhen”; and, Patrick MacPhee, author of “Thirty Minutes or It’s a Paradox.”
We discuss their journey as creative individuals and what makes the workshop so special for them and what Writers and Illustrators of the Future means tot hem and to the genre.
330. Winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala.
These eight winners from year 41 at the Writers & Illustrators of the Future workshop and awards gala: Seth Atwater, Jr., author of “A World of Repetitions,” Jefferson Snow, author of “The Rune Witch,” Joel C. Scoberg, author of “The Stench of Freedom,” Sandra Skalski, author of “Slip Stone,” T.R. Naus, author of “Storm Damage,” Haileigh Enriquez, illustrator of “Storm Damage” and “Slip Stone,” HeatherAnne Lee, illustrator of “Code L1,” and Andrew Jackson, author of “Code L1.”
We discuss their journey as creative individuals and what makes the workshop so special for them and what Writers and Illustrators of the Future means to them and to the genre.
331. Volume 41 Illustrator Winners Discuss the Contest, Art, and the Illustrator Forum
Four Illustrators of the Future winners: CL Fors, illustrator of “A World of Repetitions”; Tremani Sutcliffe, illustrator of “Ascii”; Breanda Petsch, illustrator of “Karma Birds”; and Daniel Montifar, illustrator of “The Boy from Elsewhen.”
We discuss their journey as creative individuals and what makes the workshop so special for them and what Writers and Illustrators of the Future means to them and to the genre.
