We had the good fortune of connecting with CASEY RISLOV and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi CASEY, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
After having 5 award winning picture books, it was time to create my own publishing company, Mountain Stars Press. This is important as the big distribution companies will realize that you are being serious about creating books. Book distribution companies are the ones responsible for working through the main lines of Ingram and Baker & Taylor, who are the sales force and also distribution company that work closely with libraries and bookstores.

I am the author, and I have an entire team to help create my books. The main business involved in my book making process is Book Bridge Press out of Minnesota. They actually edit, help find an illustrator to fit perfectly with my book, create the book, and then find a printer. Book Bridge Press is really the business that creates the picture books, but they do not handle anything about the book after the book is in your hands. This is another reason why I have to create my own publishing name, Mountain Stars Press. The hardest part for my business is getting noticed by the bookstores and libraries, as this is a big part of my business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been an author since 2011 and it all started by reading great books with preschoolers five days a week. I was an early childhood special needs teacher for 7 years before I decided to give writing a professional chance. I didn’t know I was headed down this path, but after a couple years of teaching, I couldn’t get my mind to stop creating its own ideas for stories when it was time for me to sleep. Once I had 30 plus ideas, I just went for it.

My books that have been most popular are in unique niches. One niche has been writing about the Rocky Mountain west animals (Rowdy Randy and soon to come The Rowdy Randy Wild West Show) and the other is my tender-hearted book about love and loss (Love is Forever). Both of these books have won many prestigious awards and have been reprinted several times due to their popularity.

Awards won: Wyoming “Great Read” for National Book Festival, Wyoming Buckaroo nominee, SPUR Award, Ben Franklin Award, Colorado Independent EVVY Book Award and more.

The book world is huge, from how many new titles are printed each year (500,000+) to figuring out all the logistics on how to get your book noticed, there is a lot to learn. I figure every book you learn and continue to grow and build on prior knowledge. There is no easy way to jump in and be ready. Unless you get picked up by the big 5 publishing companies, soon to be 4. They have been in the game a long time and will do most of the work but the authors are required to help get noticed through social media and websites. But you will see through research that Indie Publishers are alive and well. There are many organizations that are helpful for success. Two big examples are IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) and SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators). I am a part of both organizations.

It has been slow and steady for growing my business. Being a young family from the start, it has been nice to build this way. My local community of Casper, Wyoming has been amazing about support from the beginning. We have many local businesses, and it feels like everyone wants to be a part of someone making the community a better place to live. I started with having my books in Casper hair salons, 2 bookstores, local gift stores, art museums, and more. Now I have won several state awards, I have great state support and beyond.

The biggest challenges are having your books noticed and figuring out how to do social media in a way that best reflects your brand.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Casper, Wyoming- the beautiful lake, Alcova, as it is surrounded by mountains, is known for beautiful sunrises, and has a huge canyon 3.5 miles long that can be seen by boat. The canyon has juniper and pine trees, caves, arches and more.

Casper Mountain Bridle trail for hiking- it is 5 miles long and rises over 1,200 feet. It starts with a beautiful waterfall and there are scenic outlooks, blue grouse, deer, many types of Rocky Mountain flowers, and more. It is pet friendly and worth the time.

We have several breweries in town (favorites): Gruner Brothers Brewing, Frontier Brewing Company and Taproom, Black Tooth Brewing, and Backwards Distilling Company.

Many local coffee shops- (They supply breakfast and lunch foods as well): Blue Ridge Coffee, Metro Coffee, and Bourgeois Pig.

Favorite Restaurants: Silver Fox Steakhouse, FireRock Steakhouse, Eggington’s, Racca’s Pizzeria Napoletana, Wyoming’s Rib & Chop House, and J’s Pub & Grill.

Blue Ribbon fishing on the Platte River guides: Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service

Mountain Biking for all ages and levels: Muddy Mountain Sport Loop and you can rent from Mountain Sports and Zeelo’s Cranks N Planks.

There is also a Platte River walk that goes through most of Casper, Wyoming that one can walk, bike, skate, etc. Pets can be off leash in certain parks (Morad Park and Lake McKenzie Park).

Cross-country skiing at The Nordic Ski Trails, Hogadon Basin ski area for downhill, and plenty of snowshoeing on Casper Mountain for winter fun.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Vicki Burger of Casper, Wyoming was the owner of Wind City Books (until 2021) for many years and helped me find a start to publishing books. She let me know inside information of how books are bought through bookstore distribution, what is important about having a great book that sells, and who could be of great help to me locally that creates books. That leads me to my next person: Zachary Pullen of Casper, Wyoming.

Zachary Pullen was successful with illustrating books from his very first book, The Toughest Cowboy. This book is still selling through major publishing houses. Zak was willing to help guide my book journey from many perspectives. This includes what writing groups I should consider (SCBWI and Wyoming Writers), how to garner reviews, what makes a great book survive and more. He is creative not only in his art, but in business ideas as well.

Website: https://www.caseyrislovbooks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crislovbooks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/caseyrislov

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caseyrislovbooks/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuxQHJR_6QnGLY_98SRl2lA

Image Credits
They are my images

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