In-Store: Amanda Jane Jones & Jennifer Fernandez: Mother/Founder

Event guidelines:

• All attendees are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask at all times.
• Tickets are limited to restrict capacity at our store, and each ticket will include either a copy of the featured book or a $10 Books Are Magic gift card.
• Additional copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event.
• A signing will follow the talk.
• Home address is collected for contact tracing purposes; it will not be used otherwise.
• As a reminder: If you are not feeling well, please do not come to the event, even if you have a ticket; email us and we'll work it out.

If you have any questions regarding these guidelines or to request accessibility accommodations, please contact [email protected].

An inspirational and empowering celebration of more than sixty women who are both dedicated mothers and successful entrepreneurs.

Starting a business can be daunting, scary, and exciting, all at once; so too can starting a family. But they can coexist—as the incredible roster of women in this book demonstrate, entrepreneurship can be both a sustainable and fulfilling model for working motherhood. Each woman profiled here shares insights from her journey as well as powerful lessons and practical advice, including:

• How to plan for maternity leave
• The benefits of sharing financial information with your peers
• Key points to include when drafting a contract
• Creative ways to include your kids in your work
• The value of building support systems, from advisory boards to nanny shares
• Resources for securing grants and fellowships
• Tips for preparing taxes as a freelancer
• How to avoid the "mom guilt" trap

Filled with first-person stories of designers, makers, CEOs, farmers, pastry chefs, artists, lawyers, educators, and more, Mother / Founder captures with unprecedented candor the unique challenges and joys of what it means to launch and run a business while being just as fiercely dedicated to raising children.

Amanda Jane Jones is a graphic designer, illustrator, and children’s book author. She was the co-creator and founding designer of Kinfolk and has collaborated with such brands as Opinel, Revival Rugs, Solly Baby, and Schoolhouse Electric. She’s been featured by Architectural Digest, The New York Times, and Martha Stewart Living, as well as online publications that include Mother Mag, Cup of Jo, Domino, Wit & Delight, Oh Joy!, VSCO, Gap, and Click Magazine.

Emma Straub is the New York Times-bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of three picture books, Gaga Mistake Day, which she co-wrote with her mother, Very Good Hats, and Mama Hug. She is a Guggenheim Foundation Fellow and her work has been published in more than 20 languages. Emma and her husband own Books Are Magic, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn, New York.

Roma Patel is a former marketing executive turned health-food entrepreneur based outside of Atlanta. She is the founder and CEO of Tejari, an organic plant-based protein blend designed to boost the nutritional value of meals for the whole family.

Amber Lee is a founding partner and CEO of Visual Country, a Brooklyn-based content production agency that works with global brands and the agencies that support them. She creates short-form video and digital content experiences that delight and engage users across multiple platforms.

Fany Gerson is a chef, consultant, teacher, speaker, James Beard Award–nominated cookbook author, and owner of Fan-Fan Doughnuts and La Newyorkina. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, the Mexico City native was the chef and co-founder of artisanal doughnut shop Dough and has worked in a range of fine-dining kitchens around the world, including three Michelin–starred Akelare in Spain and Eleven Madison Park in New York.

Veronique Nguyen is the founder of Les Gamins, a Brooklyn-based children’s clothing company with a focus on sustainability and natural materials. With more than 15 years of experience in the home and fashion retail space, she recently launched Union Street Consulting to support and coach emerging brands from inception to growth.

Jennifer Fernandez is a former magazine and digital editor who has written about design, travel, and food for nationwide publications that include The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Travel + Leisure, Esquire, Departures, House Beautiful, Elle Décor, Martha Stewart Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and Domino.

Host or Publisher Books Are Magic