Today we’d like to introduce you to Janee’ Brown.
Hi Janee’, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In elementary school, I knew I wanted to become a book publisher. I frequently dreamed of writing and self-publishing. One late night in 2018, I was reflecting in an attempt to find my purpose. I had just completed a 60-day prayer fast and asked God to show me my next move. I went to sleep and dreamt the same dream I had as a child- writing and self-publishing books. I woke up and knew I needed to work towards book publishing. I started as a freelance editor and participated in several publishing workshops, courses, and webinars. Fast forward two and a half years later, Open Book Publishing has launched and is here to stay.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?When you start anything new, even if you prayed for it your entire life, there will be a learning curve, character stretching, and several moments when you question yourself. In the very beginning, I compared myself and Open Book Publishing to others. I did not think I was successful enough to set prices at the value I deserve and was incredibly overwhelmed. There were moments I was completely clueless and depended on God and Google to service clients and structure the company. Similar to other start-ups, I also had to learn bookkeeping and business finance, team and company development, and marketing.
One of the biggest obstacles was balance. Life changes when you add a business owner to your resume. I had to learn and am still learning how to balance relationships, physical and mental health, and self-care while also growing and scaling Open Book Publishing.
We’ve been impressed with Open Book Publishing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Open Book Publishing is a minority and female-owned book publishing company launched in 2019 with a mission to revolutionize communities with pen and paper. We partner with thought leaders, truth-tellers, creative beings, and anyone who has something to say. In terms of genre, OBP centers on novels, non-fiction, and anthologies.
In the Summer of 2021 Open Book announced the inaugural Pieces Of a Woman project, a collaborative narrative-driven anthology that illustrates the complexities of womanhood through the lens of every woman. Pieces Of a Woman endeavors to explore and celebrate various expressions of womanhood. Slated as OBP’s premier annual project, each volume is set to feature female collaborators and their stories. Ultimately, Pieces Of a Woman will empower and honor women through the art of authentic storytelling. In solidarity with all women near and far, each volume will be released on March 8th, International Women’s Day of each calendar year. Registration is available now for women who aspire to share their stories in an impactful way alongside other dynamic women and their stories.
Additionally, in October ‘21 Open Book Publishing launched the Pen & Paper blog as the go-to resource to transition writers to authors and guide authors through the 3 P’s of Publishing- Project Development, Production, and Promotion. The independent publishing company published its first book in November 2021 and is set to release two more books in December of 2021.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is family game nights. I vividly remember the taste of my mom’s homemade tacos, listening to my dad sing classic R&B songs (primarily from his favorite group Frankie Beverly & Maze), and fighting with my brother to get Boardwalk and Park Place during a long night of playing Monopoly. My family has been my foundation and has anchored me as I pursued my childhood dreams and turned them into my reality.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@obpublishing.com
- Website: www.obpublishing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ob_publishing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obpublishing
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ob_publishing1
