Heights Press, A New Imprint from OverDrive (A Conversation with Alexis Petric-Black)

Today, we're joined by Alexis Petric-Black, VP of Content at OverDrive, a digital reading platform that provides ebooks and audiobooks to libraries and schools worldwide. While OverDrive has long been known as a distributor of digital reading materials, they're now branching into publishing with the creation of a new children's imprint. We're delighted to discuss this new venture.

 

Welcome to Smack Dab in the Middle, Alexis! We're a middle grade blog where authors (and often librarians and teachers, and occasionally agents and editors) all come together to discuss the MG world: books releasing, writing for the age group, etc. We're excited to learn more about Heights Press. What inspired the creation of the press at OverDrive? How does it fit in with OverDrive's broader publishing strategy?

The creation of Heights Press at OverDrive was inspired by our long-standing commitment to promoting literacy and supporting libraries. Over the past two decades, we’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of reading and the vital role that libraries play in fostering lifelong learning. This experience naturally led us to explore new ways to engage young readers and support literacy initiatives, culminating in the launch of Heights Press.

Heights Press fits seamlessly into OverDrive’s broader publishing strategy by expanding our content offerings and enhancing our ability to serve diverse communities. By producing original content, we can provide libraries with unique, high-quality materials that cater to the varied interests and needs of their patrons. This initiative aligns with our mission to make reading accessible and enjoyable for everyone, reinforcing our dedication to literacy and education on a global scale.

Your first release is Hickory Hollow, a middle grade series. Tell us more about it. Will the focus always be on middle grade literature? Fiction rather than non-fiction?

 

Our debut series, Hickory Hollow, is an exciting middle grade series that follows the young residents of a fictional town by the same name. Each book in the series features a unique and interesting character, offering a diverse set of perspectives and backgrounds. These narratives are designed to entertain and inspire, encouraging more kids to develop a love for reading.

We will be launching the Hickory Hollow series in additional languages, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, German, and Korean, in the coming months. A multi-lingual approach allows readers from diverse backgrounds to experience the same captivating stories simultaneously, fostering a sense of global community and inclusivity. By making our content accessible in multiple languages, we aim to bridge cultural gaps and ensure that more children can enjoy and benefit from our engaging narratives, no matter their linguistic background.

While our initial focus is on middle grade literature, we are open to exploring a variety of genres and age groups in the future. Our primary goal is to provide compelling stories that resonate with young readers, whether through fiction or non-fiction. We believe in the power of storytelling to foster a lifelong passion for reading, and we are excited to see where this journey takes us.

Our readers at Smack Dab are primarily librarians and authors themselves. For the authors: What's the submission process like for Heights Press? Are you open to unagented or unsolicited submissions? What will your editorial process entail?

We are excited to engage with a diverse range of voices and stories. For authors interested in submitting their work, we have a straightforward submission process. We are open to both agented and unagented submissions, welcoming pitches and queries from passionate writers.

To submit your work, please visit our contact page [Contact Heights Press] for detailed guidelines and submission instructions. While we look forward to discovering new talent and bringing fresh, compelling stories to our readers please note that our current focus is on finishing and launching the remaining languages and audiobooks for the Hickory Hollow series. As a result, our response times may be slower than usual. We appreciate patience and understanding during this busy period.

 For our librarians: What digital tools will Heights Press be using to enhance the reading experience?

Audiobooks editions are coming soon! These are a fantastic addition to our catalog and provide an alternative way for children to enjoy stories, especially for those who may have reading difficulties or prefer listening. Audiobooks also allow kids to immerse themselves in stories during various activities, such as commuting or relaxing at home, ensuring that the joy of reading is always within reach.

In addition to audiobooks, we offer a series of short videos available on the Kanopy Kids platform, providing a visual experience for the series. These videos complement our audiobooks, allowing children to engage with the stories in multiple formats. This multi-platform approach ensures that our content is accessible and enjoyable for all children, regardless of their preferred way of experiencing stories.

How will Heights Press build on OverDrive's established library relationships to create new opportunities for both authors and educational institutions?

By tapping into this well-established infrastructure, we can ensure that our original content reaches a wide audience of young readers through libraries worldwide. This not only provides authors with a significant platform to showcase their work but also enhances the variety and quality of materials available to students and library patrons. One title will be available for free with unlimited checkouts for schools and libraries that already use OverDrive, making it even easier for these institutions to access our content.

For educational institutions, our TeachingBooks program offers a wealth of resources that can be integrated into curricula and literacy programs. The diverse range of stories, available in multiple languages and formats, supports inclusive education and helps meet the needs of students from various backgrounds.

How will Heights Press champion diverse voices and narratives? 

Heights Press is committed to championing diverse voices and narratives by actively seeking out and publishing stories from a wide range of authors and perspectives. Our debut series, Hickory Hollow, exemplifies this commitment by featuring a diverse set of characters, each crafted by authors who bring their unique backgrounds and experiences to the table. This approach ensures that our stories are authentic and resonate with readers from various cultural and social backgrounds.

What emerging digital reading trends are you most interested in exploring at Heights Press?

Engaging readers where they are is a cornerstone of our approach at Heights Press. By offering content across multiple platforms, including e-books, audiobooks, and short videos on Kanopy Kids, we ensure that children can access our stories in the format that suits them best. This flexibility not only makes reading more convenient but also meets the diverse needs and preferences of young readers, whether they enjoy reading on a tablet, listening to stories during a car ride, or watching engaging videos at home.

Supporting literacy through a multi-lingual and multi-platform strategy helps us reach a wider audience and encourages a love for reading in various contexts. By making our content accessible in multiple languages and formats, we break down barriers to literacy, allowing children from different backgrounds and with different learning styles to enjoy and benefit from our stories. This inclusive approach fosters a lifelong passion for reading and learning, helping to build a more literate and connected community.

What excites you most about this new venture?

What excites me most about this new venture is the incredible opportunity to connect with young readers in innovative and meaningful ways. By offering our content across multiple platforms and in various languages, we can reach a diverse audience and make reading accessible to more children than ever before. It’s thrilling to think about the impact we can have on fostering a love for reading and storytelling in kids from all backgrounds.

Additionally, the chance to champion diverse voices and narratives through our publications is truly inspiring. Each story we share has the potential to resonate with readers on a personal level, reflecting their own experiences and broadening their horizons. This venture allows us to not only entertain but also educate and empower the next generation of readers, which is incredibly rewarding.

 Looking ahead five years from now, what would make you consider Heights Press a success?

Ultimately, our number one goal is to grow lifelong readers. If we can contribute meaningfully to the global literacy landscape, then Heights Press will have truly succeeded.