See You on the Bookshelf

We've come back to where we began our story: roughly eight months out from publication. We pause for a moment before digging into the even more behind-the-scenes—and invisible—aspects of the publishing process.

Full transcript: jackcheng.com/podcasts/see-you-on-the-bookshelf/interlude/

As See You in the Cosmos launches this week in the US, UK, and rest of the English-speaking world, we look back on the internal launches that took place within the publishing houses roughly one year ago. We talk again with my editors Anthea Townsend and Jess Dandino Garrison about the room where it happens, and about presenting a book to their colleagues at the publishing house.

Full transcript: https://jackcheng.com/podcasts/see-you-on-the-bookshelf/6-the-internal-launch/

The challenge of writing and editing a middle grade book with a broader audience translates to a similar challenge in cover (or jacket) design. In this episode we talk with Jacqui McDonough, Art Director at Penguin Random House Children’s in the UK about the design process, what designers and art directors do, and hiring The Heads of State for the cover illustration.

Full transcript: https://jackcheng.com/podcasts/see-you-on-the-bookshelf/5-the-cover/

This episode we go deeper into editing with Jess Garrison of Dial Books for Young Readers and Anthea Townsend of Penguin Random House Children’s UK. We talk about our three-way collaboration, and about the differences between fiction for middle grade, young adult, and adult readers.

Full transcript: https://jackcheng.com/podcasts/see-you-on-the-bookshelf/4-the-editing/

See You in the Cosmos was jointly acquired by two editors—one on each side of the Atlantic. In this episode, we meet those two editors. Jess Garrison is Senior Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers, part of Penguin Young Readers in the US. Anthea Townsend is Editorial Director at Penguin Random House Children’s in the UK. We hear about how they came together over the manuscript, and what they look for in the books they publish.

Full transcript: https://jackcheng.com/podcasts/see-you-on-the-bookshelf/3-the-acquisition/

Even before See You in the Cosmos was sold to US and UK publishers, it was sold in Germany. In this episode we chat with Kalah McCaffrey , the literary scout who played a significant role in the deal. We also hear again from my agent, Jessica Craig, about auctions, pre-emptive offers, and the nailbiting couple weeks before the english language offers came in.

Full transcript: https://jackcheng.com/podcasts/see-you-on-the-bookshelf/2-the-german-deal/