Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessika Raisor
Hi Jessika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
So my background is in animation and business. And I’ve used those skills through many different jobs but never my own business.
Going on the same time is my partner’s author journey. Over 10 years ago he started a draft of a story that would grow into a full blown novel by 2022. That story wasn’t big enough for one book so it expanded into a series and later multiple tales. To start getting his work published, he went the traditional route of querying agents. It was a time-consuming process with the same feedback over and over. The book wasn’t a niche that would sell.
This was the problem that sparked me starting Plush & Regal. Being in the arts community of Columbus and later of the greater Northeast Ohio area, I knew there was a reader for everything. I loved trading zines or going to art fairs and seeing what books were being created.
I started a micro-press to give chances to new and old authors alike that had a cool idea that wasn’t for the wider market.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I can’t imagine starting any business is a totally smooth road. And with the company not yet hitting a year old, I am sure there are bigger potholes on the way.
While our first author was my partner, Trent Lindsey, his books were lengthy and that takes time for an editor to get through. So I wanted to learn the ropes with a smaller release. That ended up being a book that’s out now, A Journey Through the Tarot by Hannah Troyer.
I took the 8,000 word manuscript my friend had just sitting in a Google Doc and put my time around finalizing it for publication and marketing it. Struggles ranged from: improperly formatted ebook files, being accepted by distributors, to finding people who want to read the book. But all of these problems were expected and it’s been fun learning how to overcome them!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Plush & Regal Press, we are all about publishing genre-bending works and hidden gems. We take care of everything for our authors, including in-house audiobook production, editing and beta reading, and layout design. We take great pride in working closely with authors who may not fit the traditional mould, and we are passionate about bringing their unique visions to life.
We want to bring the traditional publishing world’s benefits (we fully fund any project we take on) with the benefits of self-publishing (the author gets a say in designs and editing choices).
We also take advantage of the booming audiobook market by making sure all our books get released in audio and print. A lot of micr0-presses only do ebooks and print, and I am excited to leverage my experience in audio and video editing to make our author’s work stand-out!
At Plush & Regal Press, we are dedicated to championing talented and innovative authors and helping them create a lasting impact in the publishing world.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The number one way to support us is to buy our books! As of this interview, we have one release out on every platform: A Journey Through the Tarot by Hannah Troyer. It’s a story about the ups and downs of life through the framing of the 78 cards in the tarot.
Book royalties are paper-thin (pun intended) for the small presses as well as the big guys. So we have to sell a lot of books- print and digital, to keep our place funded.
This also supports the author as they receive 30-50% of the royalties!
You can also follow us on Instagram where it’s a mix of reviews of our books and relatable content for those who love reading or writing.
If you’re an author who wants to work with us, our first open call to new works will be in early 2025! I can’t wait to sign on a new author and explore a new world of fiction. You can follow our Instagram page, or subscribe to our newsletter to be sure you hear when applications open.
Pricing:
- Print: 9.99
- eBook: 3.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.plushandregal.press
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plushandregal
