Diving into publishing is no easy feat, yet for Rob and Amanda Broder, the choice was easy. Neither had a background in publishing – he was a preschool teacher and she worked in art museums – but the two were passionate about publishing books for young readers. That leap of faith has paid off. Their Portland, Ore.-based Ripple Grove Press celebrates the one-year anniversary of its first title, The Gentleman Bat by Abraham Schroeder, illustrated by Piotr Parda, this October. The children’s press, started by the couple in March 2013, focuses on picture books for children ages 2-6.
“We have a child of our own, and are the kind of parents who were always talking about children’s books. It occurred to us one day that we could publish them,” said Rob. “When I was teaching, I used to tell the children a story I made up called Ripple Grove, about fairies, magic and trolls, and each day I would add to it. When my wife and I talked about starting a publishing company, she suggested we call it Ripple Grove Press.”
The availability of online information made starting the business relatively easy for the newcomers. “There are so many resources that we referred to before starting the company that helped us along,” says Amanda, citing the Independent Book Publishers Association and publishing blogs. “If we have a question about editing, printing, or distributing we can find it online. It’s been really great.”
Since opening the call for work in 2013, the press has received thousands of submissions. Their first title, The Gentleman Bat, was acquired in February 2013, before the press was incorporated. Author Schroeder had worked with Amanda at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. “We had been talking with friends about our idea to start a children’s press,” she recalled, “and he submitted his story before we had even officially opened our doors. It worked out well for all of us.”
Because the couple works from home, their four-and-a-half year-old daughter sometimes plays a role in the company. “She’s such a part of the process,” says Amanda. “We test-run stories around her. She sees the book we’re working on now, Salad Pie, on the computer, but has no idea why it’s not a book yet, because she sees it right there.” Rob adds, “Occasionally we will read submissions to her, not necessarily to get her thumbs up, but to hear how it sounds reading it to a child.”
The press moved to Portland from Massachusetts in November 2014, and has put a lot of effort into becoming involved with the local book scene. “We love it here, and feel fortunate to live in such a vibrant literary community,” says Amanda. Ripple Grove partnered with local independent bookseller Green Bean Books for the 2015 Children’s Picture Book Week, and is participating in PNBA and Portland’s Wordstock Festival in November. “Portland is very excited about small, local, independent businesses. I do believe we’re the only children’s publisher in Portland,” says Amanda.
This fall the press, which is distributed by Midpoint, has three titles: Too Many Tables, The Peddler’s Bed, and Mae and the Moon, and three in the works for 2016: Salad Pie, Monday Is Wash Day, and Lizbeth Lou Got a Rock in Her Shoe. The Broders aim for each title to have distinct art. Salad Pie is illustrated with watercolors, Lizbeth Lou Got a Rock in Her Shoe with papercuts, and Monday Is Wash Day with watercolors and collage.
Down the line, the company might expand to early readers and middle grade books, but for now the couple is focusing on marketing and promoting the current picture book list. “We are always looking forward to finding that one story that we read out loud over and over,” says Rob. “We’re so happy to be publishing children’s books. Our heart is just in it.”
