Today we’d like to introduce you to Jana Grissom.
INtense Publications Motto: Literacy changes the world one word at a time.
INtense Publications Mission: Our mission is to promote literacy by release cutting-edge, diverse novels for readers of all ages.
INtense Publications is an independent publishing house in Fort Worth, Texas founded to meet the literacy needs of students and educators. We believe readers of all ages desire authentic, challenging novels to inspire their character and imagination.
About Us:
The core of INtense Publications’ mission is to engage young readers with a variety of diverse books that tackle difficult themes such as bullying, disability, discrimination, and family issues. Founded in the summer of 2018 to meet the literacy needs of students and educators, INtense Publications is the passion project of author and educator Jana Grissom. Jana has spent her life trying to improve the lives of kids; as a teacher, foster parent, and the author of a YA fantasy series. As a middle school teacher, Jana realized her teen boys and minority populations needed books written for just them. She was inspired to reach out to a team of educators and pursue titles that push readers to think outside of the box. INtense Publications was formed, and they began searching for authors who were not afraid to speak using a unique voice to spread diversity and inclusion into the literary world for teens. INtense Publications believes literacy will change the world one word at a time.
Has it been a smooth road?
Teaching by day and publishing every other moment poses a rewarding but exhausting mission. Our students need more. They need books that will grab their attention and entertain them while building their love for reading. In the classroom, our students struggle with reading and writing. They hate it. We are desperate to find authors with unique stories that speak to the hearts and minds of our students. Together, we are changing the world one word at a time.
Tell us more about your business.
The INtense team consists of educators with a passion for literacy. We specialize in printing diverse books that address difficult themes. The first two books signed by INtense Publications were written by a teacher, Frank Morelli, and an attorney, James Caruthers, working to advocate for the safety of our children in the state of Texas. Frank wrote Please Return To Norbert M. Finkelstein, a unique middle-grade novel with an adult protagonist and narrator who shares his experiences on the pages of his journal. The novel bridges a massive age gap in the literary world (and in the world of education), reversing the misconception that kids read kid books and adults read adult books. Morelli’s latest novel series gives students in fourth through seventh grades an opportunity to see their lives through the eyes of their teacher–a man struggling with many of the same issues as them, such as bullying and his search for self-worth. The opening novel in the Please Return To series delves deeply into the topic of bullying, both from the perspectives of pre-teen characters and from the perspective of an adult still facing the same obstacles in his own life. Finkelstein is perfect for students in fourth through seventh grades, incorporating the age group from nine through thirteen-years-old. It holds appeal to students of all genders but will be especially beneficial to boys that would be considered “reluctant readers” because of its connections to professional wrestling, its relatable illustrations, and a heavy reliance on the element of humor.
James wrote Snardler which follows the story of a middle school boy who loves to play pranks. Xavier Crenshaw discovers his life’s calling when he devises an elaborate prank that goes badly wrong. Enlightened by this experience, Xavier creates “snardling,” which is subtly but crucially different from ordinary pranks. For starters, snardlers never get caught. The crisis comes when Xavier and his two partners snardle the whole school, and the wrong person gets blamed. The team falls apart in the aftermath until a despondent Xavier receives a secret note requesting a snardle of extraordinary proportions to occur at the unveiling of long-dead poet’s secret diary. Despite his careful planning, Xavier wasn’t ready for the terrifying surprise awaiting him, and no one in Penceleton is prepared for what comes next.
Since publishing our first two titles, we have releases A Light Through the Cave by Gordon Saunders, Light of Distant Suns by Lauren Sergeant, and Tragic + Divine by Melody Felix-Prieto. Upcoming titles are Derek Hyde Knows Spooky When He Sees It by Michael Lunsford, The Rescuer by Kari Veenstra, The Mostly Invisible Boy by AJ Vanderhorst, and many more.
INtense Publications is driven by the need for fun, diverse books to be available on the shelves of every library. Books that will engage and teach students how to become a better person in their home, community, and world.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Books will never cease as long as imagination remains in the minds and hearts of our children. Despite the many publishers, INtense strives to bring books to life that will resonate with our school-age readers. The technology of publishing continues to change, but we will always be here to provide print copies in paperback and hardback for libraries to place on their shelves for kids across the U.S. to enjoy reading.
Pricing:
- Paperbacks range from 11.99 to 15.99
- Hardbacks range from 22.99 to 25.99
- Ebooks range from 3.99 to 6.99
Contact Info:
- Address: 3908 Theo Dr. Crowley, TX 76036
- Website: www.INtensePublications.com
- Phone: 817-846-9709
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @IntensePublications
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/INtensePublications/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com@INtensePub
Image Credit:
Kassi Snider, Emily Mullins Cross
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