★ Who is Jessica Colliver?
Spoilers - I am her!
So the research for this issue was very easy and you can check out the video below for a brief introduction to me:
So now that you've had a chance to check me out, you may be interested in finding out more about the things that I'm passionate about - picturebooks!
★ Why I'm obsessed with picturebooks?
I've always been an avid picturebook collector and have loved searching for patterns within their pages since childhood, but there's something that surprises a lot of people: I was actually a reluctant reader.
When I was young I preferred to invent my own stories to go with the illustrations and I hated being told which books I had to read (and which books were off limits!). Fortunately, I have a persistent family that was determined to help me with my reading and they kept a running supply of stories until eventually, one stuck.
I will never forget the day I became a 'reader'. That first chapter was like meeting a friend that fully understood me; my sense of humour, thoughts, tastes, and opinions at a time when I didn't even fully understand who 'me' was yet.
The day I became a 'reader' was the day I discovered my philosophy: "The three things needed to create a reader; the right book, in the right hands, at the right time."
For me, the right book didn't come along until I was 10.
After that, each new story was another catalogue of experiences where I uncovered more and more about myself, other people, and the world around me. As a young adult, I volunteered as a Reading Support Leader and successfully applied my philosophy to support other reluctant readers and help them foster their own love of reading.
This experience was the catalyst that led me to complete an MSc in Neuroscience - specialising in development, learning, and memory. I then redirected my focus to look at the science behind why some picturebooks reach market success and longevity. But it wasn’t until I had my own children that I started to rediscover the role of picturebooks in bonding, and uncovered a passion for creating my own stories.
★ What am I working on?
Now I'm an independent researcher, investigating what it takes to create a successful picturebook. I like to call my work: Pssst! - Picturebook Secrets of Successful Storytelling!
By utilising my degree, I've been able to study effective storytelling techniques by looking at the science behind how and why other creators have achieved success.
It's with that knowledge, that I set out to help fellow writers and illustrators to improve not only their storytelling skills but also their picturebook designs. It's my hope that the findings can be replicated when appropriate and can be used to improve stories regardless of what their story is about.
As more and more picturebook creators asked about my research, I decided to create a YouTube channel to explain my work. It's with this channel I've been able to help picturebook creators on their journey towards success and fund my ongoing research - thank you Google Ads. So please check out my channel if you're interested in finding out more.
★ What topics does 'Pssst!' cover?
Pssst! has a growing community of readers here and listeners on my YouTube channel, so the topics covered are constantly expanding. However, here are a few of the recent highlights:
'Spotlight On' - A series where we look at people, news, and other areas of the picturebook industry that might have something valuable for you to consider in your development as a picturebook creator.
'Creator Considerations' - A series where I break down everything you need to be aware of when creating a picturebook to help level up.
Leave a comment on my YouTube channel if there's a topic that you'd like to see covered - and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out if your topic becomes a selected feature.
★ How can you find out more?
Subscribe to Pssst! so you don't miss an issue.
Check out my YouTube Channel.
Follow me on Twitter.
Together we can design your success story - so let's start experimenting!
Recommended citation: Colliver, Jessica. “Spotlight On - Jessica Colliver.” Pssst! - Picturebook Secrets of Successful Storytelling, vol. 1, no. 1, 2020.
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