Jenn Risko

Jenn Risko is the Co-Founder and former Publisher of Shelf Awareness, the book industry’s leading media company. She has over 35 years of experience as an entrepreneur, sales and marketing maven, and builder of companies, products, audiences, and culture.  

She departed Shelf Awareness in August 2024 to take a break and begin looking for a new adventure.

She calls this phase: In Search of the Next Jenn.

Accomplishments

I built, ran, and grew Shelf Awareness for 19 and a half years. It was my job to know everyone in book publishing and bookselling, both in the US and abroad, and establish deep, mutually beneficial relationships. I recruited and directly managed the senior team including the CFO, COO, and VP of Sales and Marketing. For 90% of my time there, we had year over year of revenue and profit growth.

I created all of the products after Shelf Pro, including Shelf for Readers - a weekly consumer facing newsletter that has helped indie bookstores sell hundreds of thousands of books. The technology and deployment of this had never been seen before in the publishing world. We became the first book media company to diversify our revenue from BTB to include BTC as well. I invented all of the advertorial products: Dedicated Issue, Maximum Shelf, Galley Love of the Week.  Pre-Order Eblast has helped millions of book lovers pre-order upcoming books. Following the success of Shelf for Readers, we used our tech and know-how to develop a services part of our company that has greatly helped regional associations improve their services with holiday catalogs and other mailings.

Some things I am good at:

  • Strategy

  • Marketing 

  • Sales

  • Parallel Parking

  • Cooking

  • Baking

  • Knitting

  • Gardening

Some things I deeply care about:

  • Indie bookstores

  • Women In Publishing

  • Banned Books/Censorship

  • A Women’s Right to Choose

Some things I like:

  • Bread

  • Smoked butter

  • Flaky salt

  • Woobies

  • I’ve been in business with Jenn since 2005 and have been astounded by her creativity for every one of those years. She has been one of the brightest stars and shining light and fiercest defenders of our industry for all these years. Brainstorming with her is always one of the most fun and fruitful ways for me to spend time. I’d go into business with her again in a nano second—- and hope that’s exactly what the next chapter brings!!!

    M.J. Rose, NYT bestselling author, founder AuthorBuzz and co-founder 1001DarkNights and Blue Box Press

  • I met Jenn at PNBA in the Fall 2005, when Shelf Awareness launched. Jenn is that person who is innovative and a closer. Jenn was relentless in improving the product and delivering results for the stakeholders. I've no doubt Jenn can do anything.

    Kuo-Yu Liang, President & Founder, Ku Worldwide

  • I’ve watched you surmount one challenge after the next for so many years that I know whatever you do next will be at least as exciting and bold.I’ll be cheering for you as you summit the next mountain!

    Bob Miller, former publisher of Flatiron Books

  • Jenn is an idea-woman, a problem-solver, a creative thinker, a here’s-what-I’m-thinking-next-and-how-can-we-work-together visionary. Plus, she’s the life of any party. Jenn knows everyone in—and everything about—the book business. We’ve all been the recipients of her wisdom and generosity. I can’t wait to see what’s next for her.

    Wendy Sheanin, VP, Independent Retail Sales, Simon & Schuster

  • Jenn is an amazing entrepreneur who became a key player in the publishing world almost instantly. She made sure her publication didn’t miss an issue for more than 20 years, and she connected people and companies across the industry seemingly without effort. She is a creative, driven, and (my favorite) fun business leader who can do anything she wants. Jenn made my campaigns more successful and I can’t wait to see what her next step is.

    Craig Young, President of Sales, Authors Equity

  • I am thrilled to endorse Jenn Risko, a visionary leader and co-founder of *The Shelf*, whose dynamic career in publishing has been nothing short of impressive. Taking her years of experience in sales, marketing, Jenn has consistently demonstrated her ability to amplify that success across the entire industry as she built Shelf Awareness. Her passion for life is evident in everything she does. She approaches each endeavor with enthusiasm, dedication, and unmatched creativity and drive. Jenn is not just a force in the publishing world; she's a dynamic individual who brings joy, innovation, and a touch of fun to every aspect of her life. It’s a privilege to know and work with her.

    Mary McAveney, President & CEO, Abrams Books