Daniel Island author fills gap with new publishing company


 

***image4***"I thought wouldn’t it be great to start a publishing company whose mission is to produce products that not only entertain and educate, but also encourage conversation?" said the 50 year-old Jerome, who earned a B.S. degree in education (majoring in biological sciences and minoring in environmental science) from Miami University of Ohio. "I feel like I’ve been training for this my whole life."

Jerome enlisted help from her brother, Jim Boehm, who owns his own publishing company in Summerville. Together, they formed Vertical Connect Press about a year ago. She writes the books while he handles operations and production issues.

They officially launched the company last month by releasing the first two books in their flagship book line, The Grand Kidz series.

"We think every kid is grand," explains Jerome. "We’re celebrating both relationships and identity with the series."


The Chef Down at the Zoo, illustrated by Jerome’s brother Gary Boehm, an architect in Charleston, examines the travails of feeding all of the hungry animals at the zoo. Jerome’s other release, Miniature Golf Madness, describes one family’s humorous solution to a rainy day problem. In both books, there are activity pages in the back designed to spark conversations between kids and the adults they are reading with.

"Everyone knows how valuable it is to read and talk to children," added Jerome. "But sometimes, we need tools to help jump-start the process. That’s where Vertical Connect Press products can help."

***image1***There are more Vertical Connect Press creations in the pipeline, including a new book entitled The Art of Fort Building as well as fun activity cards kids can do with babysitters. Already, response to the books has been "overwhelming."

"We always hoped it would be a success, but we are pleasantly surprised to see how eagerly it appears to be accepted," said Jerome, who splits her time between Vertical Connect Press and KNI, the educational and consulting business she operates from home. "This thing all of a sudden has this terrific little life of its own, which is wonderful, but it gives us an interesting dilemma now because we have to decide what we need to do to take it to the next level."

The next level means making decisions about marketing and distribution, as well as investments in staff. Juggling two full-time positions has created 80-90 hour work weeks for Jerome. She and Gary Boehm attended two book signings last week, one for Waldenbooks at Charleston Place and the other at Barnes and Noble in Mt. Pleasant. Fortunately, she says, they plan to take it slow so the company doesn’t grow too fast.

When she’s not working, you’ll probably find Jerome out tinkering in her garden, the place she says is the inspiration behind many of her stories.

"Gardening is my passion — that’s where I write all of my books in my head," said Jerome, who has painted the interior of her home to match the changing hues of the marsh in her backyard. "I get an idea often digging in the dirt and I just have to run inside and put it down on the computer."

Jerome’s "rich soil" has helped her cultivate more than 100 books as an independent author for children over the last 6 years, on topics ranging from penguins to civil war submarines, Amelia Earhart to anthills, and radioactivity to the human brain. She began her career as a high school science teacher, but later took a position as a text editor at the educational publishing powerhouse Scott Foresman.

"When I was teaching, I actually loved it," remembers Jerome. "But I realized that I could affect so many more (children) by producing really good textbooks."

She quickly ascended the corporate ladder at Scott Foresman, eventually becoming President of the company. After a couple of years, she began to feel another calling. Hoping to spend more time with her family and pursue creative projects, she decided to leave her high-powered executive life behind.

"I was just as comfortable leaving the corporate world as I was being in it," said Jerome, who, as Editor-in-Chief and Publisher at Scott Foresman, was involved with the development of thousands of titles over a 15 year period. "When I left that position, everybody thought I was crazy. Young, 40 years old, super career path. I felt the next step would probably be a move to New York City or something like that, and I just didn’t want to do it."

Instead she began writing books for Scott Foresman and later created KNI, a business that has allowed her to write and develop programs for clients like National Geographic. Under Jerome’s leadership, a team of writers and designers produced an award-winning 75 book "Reading Expedition Science Series" for National Geographic in just three years. She wrote 26 of the books herself. Currently, she’s working on an 18-book project for a Massachusetts publisher. The theme for the series is, once again, science. Only this time she is embedding the subject into fictional stories. Thanks to technology, she is able to do most of the work from home.

"Ten or thirteen years ago, I would not have been able to live here and do what I do," said Jerome. "But with the internet I have all the resources I need at my fingertips, so I can live in lovely Charleston and Daniel Island and enjoy it!"

She also gets to enjoy time with her family, most of whom live close by. Another brother, Dan Boehm, is a Chemical Engineer and CEO in Massachusetts. How did four siblings each end up with highly successful careers? Jerome says it began with the foundation created by her parents.

"We were always encouraged to explore and think and do," recalls Jerome of her upbringing in a small Ohio town. "No one really said you can do anything you wanted. It’s just that we didn’t know there were any restrictions. It never occurred to us that we couldn’t do anything. When you’re in a supportive and loving environment, you eventually find your niche."

There’s no question Jerome has found hers. As she begins a new chapter in her life with Vertical Connect Press, she is full of hope for what lies ahead. As long as the company fills a need and is recognized as a quality product, Jerome says she will have accomplished her goal.

"I’ve been astounded so far about everything that’s happened," she added. "So who knows what the future will bring?"

Jerome says the "good stories" are the ones that touch you in some way. They either make you laugh, cry, or think. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, they may even give people something to talk about. Perhaps the best story associated with Kate Boehm Jerome will be the one about her own life and the tremendous impact it has had on others.

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Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

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