From Valarie: Tuesdays are for sharing and I’m so happy to be sharing our team with you. Lately I’ve been receiving so many emails and comments on all of the blogs wondering how I get it all done. The answer to that question is that I have the most incredible people who make up the Audrey Press team. Without them nothing would get done. With them, every idea in my head is a possibility. All of us work virtually online and freelance. We live all over the world and every day is filled with fun creations. Without further ado, I present to you the doers, dreamers, and wizards of Audrey Press. This week we are “meeting”  Chintu and Aarti Parihk  from SachManya, Inc!

Chintu and Aarti Parikh are the masterminds behind the magic at SachManya Inc. A husband and wife team, they are both veterans of the Internet publishing and mobile industry. They both have worked at leading tech companies such as Yahoo, McKesson and others.  SachManya Inc., a multi-award winning eBooks and mobile apps platform company is based out of Silicon Valley, CA, and their goal is to create affordable eBooks and apps for small to medium-sized publishers.

 

But it’s through their work with KiteReaders that Audrey Press has come to know them.  KiteReaders, a creation of SachManya  Inc.,  develops fun, educational and interactive children’s multi-media book apps and eBooks in partnership with leading children’s book publishers and authors. Chintu, Aarti, and SachManya are currently developing Audrey Press’s own The Fox Diaries into digital eBook format and we are SO excited.  First and foremost, Chintu and Aarti\’s mission for SachManya, Inc. is to help children read and learn and make a book the core part of that engagement.

So what is a “digital eBook?” A digital book is a book-length publication in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, and produced on, published through, and readable on computers or other electronic devices. For children’s books this can mean the story has features like touch-based interactions, read aloud audio to help with pronunciation, music playback, word games and animations.  “Why not delight kids while they learn?” shares Chintu with a smile. “Each of our illustrations is a form of art. They are designed to capture children’s attention and hold it.”

“We urge publishers and authors to keep an open mind to using this new medium, “ Chintu continues. “The art of storytelling is going digital. Digital media is a force that is coming to the book publishing world. Physical books will never go away, but interactive storytelling will be in higher demand in the coming years.”

Chintu goes on to note that, if you have a reluctant reader in your home, digital enhanced eBooks are not only a great motivator to read, but a fun and cool way to learn as well.

“It’s like that Bob Dylan song ‘The Times They Are A’Changin.” Chintu adds with a laugh. “ Kids will be able to read, pause on a tough word, and click on it to get a dictionary description. It all aids in letter/word associations and enhances the reading/learning process.”

Considered by many to be the next frontier of “’kids edutainment,” children’s multimedia book apps for smartphones and tablet devices are a fast growing market. These apps help a child learn to read and allow interactions with the story. Children’s book apps have become so popular that they represent of over 30% of the top selling apps within iOS Book apps category.

Other fun facts about SachManya and KiteReaders:

*The kite in the KiteReaders logo was inspired by an admiration of Benjamin Franklin.

*SachManya is actually a blending of Chintu and Aarti’s two daughter’s names.

*Chintu and Aarti met while going to college in Cleveland, Ohio.

Chintu Parikh is an entrepreneurial marketing, business management/development, and product management professional with a successful track record of launching, managing and growing Internet & software products and businesses on limited resources. Chintu resides in California with his wife Aarti and two daughters. The Parikhs\’ enjoy being outside, visiting libraries,  and are hardcore Lego fans