Exit Interview with Michael Eisenberg

There have been many significant changes, for better and for worse, in children's publishing - and publishing in general - over the decades. Children's divisions began to receive the respect and attention they deserved after being profitable for years and underwriting many adult divisions. There was a huge increase in the number of children's books being published, incredible growth in young adult publishing, and a proliferation of independent children's bookstores and chain stores. "Library services" departments morphed into "children's marketing" departments, and there was a move to market directly to the consumer. Computers, the internet, social media, and online bookstores brought enormous changes to the business. There are fewer book review outlets in traditional media and getting your books into the right reviewers' hands is key.