Conversation Summary
Steve Clair is the author of The GOAT Series, a collection of children’s biographies about the greatest athletes of all time. We talk about what happens when an author steps out from behind a brand and into their name, how looking beyond the book can open up new opportunities to reach readers, and why understanding the world around your work is just as important as understanding the work itself.
Table of Contents
00:00 Introduction to Steve Clare and the GOAT Series
01:59 The Origin and Concept of the GOAT Children’s Books
03:50 Milestones: From Fanatics Fest to Bergdorf Goodman
06:47 Merchandising Strategies in Lifestyle Stores
10:07 Books as Lifestyle Products and Art Pieces
12:58 Brand Evolution: From The Millennial Broker to Steve Clare
16:56 The Power of Personal Branding and Persona
19:04 The Role of Expertise and Cultural Relevance in Success
22:00 Timing, Relevancy, and Current Events Impacting Sales
27:03 Future Projects and New Titles in the Series
30:02 Crowdfunding and Pre-Order Strategies for Authors
32:52 Building a Community and Engaging Readers
35:03 Final Thoughts and Where to Find the GOAT Series
About Steve’s Books, The GOAT Series
The GOAT Series is a collection of children’s biographies celebrating the greatest athletes of all time, reimagined as goats. Each book tells the true story of a legend’s journey, from the early setbacks to the moments that made them great. These aren’t just sports stories. They’re lessons in hard work, resilience, teamwork, and the courage to keep trying, wrapped in art that parents actually want on the shelf. The series launched in June 2025 and has quickly grown beyond the page, with retail placements at Kith and Bergdorf Goodman.
Buy Steve’s Books:
About the Author
Steve Clair is a storyteller, and children's author who believes that greatness begins with curiosity, kindness, and the courage to keep trying no matter what. As a lifelong sports fan, Steve has always been inspired by the lessons that athletes teach beyond the game... hard work, resilience, teamwork, and perseverance. As a creator, Steve loves bringing ideas to life that spark imagination and meaningful conversations between kids and their families. He hopes every story and experience that he creates encourages children to be curious, confident, and excited about the possibilities ahead.
Connect with Steve: Instagram | TikTok | The Goat Series Instagram
How We Met
Steve and I first met through our mutual friend Max back in 2018, to collaborate on a fitness brand activation. Since then, we’ve become close friends, informal advisors to each other’s work, and frequent collaborators whenever and however we can.
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Jessica Sorentino is an author brand strategist with over a decade of experience, including time at both Simon & Schuster and Macmillan Publishers. She believes nothing promotes a book better than a passionate reader, and works with authors to position their books as the next recommendation on every reader’s list.
