InBox Interview: Walden Media—Production Company Turned Publisher

Extra!: What resources did Walden need to acquire or create in order to have the staff, expertise, technology, business plan, etc. to be successful in this new pursuit?

Kovacs: Penguin and Walden established this partnership to be able to draw upon each company’s strengths. We work collaboratively to identify and secure projects. Our colleagues at Penguin provide editorial, manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution; we collaborate to develop collateral educational materials in print and on the Internet that extend awareness of our properties in the educational and library fields. We develop and produce film properties based on works we have jointly acquired, and also based on works in Penguin’s excellent frontlist and backlist. For example, we are excited to be developing a film based on “Heat” by Mike Lupica, a best-selling title that has just been released by Penguin’s Philomel imprint.

Extra!: What advice would you give to a small or mid-sized publishers just getting into the business?

Kovacs: Lead with your strength. Proactively seek to form complementary partnerships.