A scant two years ago, Anna Barber and Darcy Pollack were complete strangers – a couple of Westside moms who found themselves on a cross-country flight, sharing an armrest. They started chatting, and by the time the plane touched down, a new business was born. What started as a casual conversation about shared interests has turned into Scribble Press. It is an innovative, storefront personal publishing service that helps kids write, illustrate and publish their own books in a child-friendly environment.
Fate couldn’t have chosen better partners. Barber came from a publishing family, and as a child amused herself by writing her own books. Pollack has a solid background in retail entertainment. Both women have been business leaders and founding partners in other enterprises – and both agree that creating Scribble Press is the best thing they’ve ever done.
Newly opened in Los Angeles, the studio allows kids (and their parents) to write and illustrate their own stories, and within minutes, walk away with a book they’ve made themselves. Templates for notepads, placemats and cards are also available. Adults can organize recipes, art and poetry into books to create unique gifts. And when the refrigerator door starts getting too crowded, parents can preserve their children’s masterpieces in book form instead of consigning them to a box in the attic.
Writing a book can be a valuable way for children to express and work through their feelings, and Pollack and Barber have assembled a group of child development experts to help kids deal with difficult issues. Their “Cueprints†provide children with an outlet for their feelings and enable parents to discuss problems with them in a positive way.
Drafting tables, a range of art supplies and a printing workshop round out the publishing experience. All it takes is a set of permanent markers and a bit of imagination to fill in the blanks. A lounge area for parents is provided. It’s also a popular venue for parties and classes.
Scribble Press is located at Westside Pavilion. For more information, visit
www.scribblepress.com.
