April 2020
Hi, everyone! I hope you’re well! I almost always start emails in this way. A greeting and then, “I hope you’re well.” But that, of course, has taken a different meaning over the last month. It has just been a month, right?
I’m honestly not sure. I got badly sick myself and had to get tested for COVID-19 (I tested negative, it ended up just being severe tonsillitis). And my time in the ER was terrifying, to be honest. I saw first hand just how bad it really is. My mom’s a nurse, treating COVID-19 patients—there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t worry about her. We talk every day, sometimes multiple times a day. And I suppose that’s something to be grateful for—my mom and I were never this close and all of this has made us closer than ever. There are many things, I’m sure, that you have found to be grateful for throughout all of this. Small joys. Maybe large joys. Moments of clarity in the madness.
Am I well? Physically, yes. Mentally, so-so. I am thankful that I have family nearby, I am financially stable, for now, and that I have a therapist who checks in on me after I ignore her calls. After, I struggle to get out of bed. After I have to coax myself out from under my sheets, first just saying let’s shower, then food, then maybe opening my inboxes to check my emails. I’ve always been very empathic, so the suffering of everyone around me is hitting me hard.
I know, this seems quite personal, right? Rather honest. But I feel that’s what we need more than ever. We need honesty, we need empathy, we need truth. We need people to stop telling us to just put on “real clothes,” and it’ll get better. For me, that does help but that’s because I normally work from home, that’s part of my normal “work from home” routine.
This is anything but normal. I’m 27. It’s hella scary watching people around me not only get sick but the economy crash and burn and wondering what is going to be left? What our future will look like? Working in publishing is my dream job. Being a writer just as much. Seeing friends get laid off, seeing beloved bookstores closed, seeing friends struggle form losing expected incomes from school visits and the like, and on top of it all, having just had a book come out… has been… hard.
Maybe some of you are doing great and that truly is great. Hold onto that. Love that. Maybe some of you aren’t doing great at all. That’s okay, too. Focus on taking care of yourself. That is more important. And then, maybe the rest of you are like me, taking it day by day and minute by minute. Dealing with issues as they come and living for moments of joy. For me, that’s been a lot of reading romance novels and finding new vampire shows to binge. Come find me online, if you wanna talk more about that. I am more than happy to provide a distraction.
At People of Color in Publishing, we’re trying to figure out ways to help, ways to provide more support. More on that soon. In case you haven’t heard about WNDB’s $500 grants for those affected by COVID-19, please do check it out if you meet the criteria as the application is open to publishing professionals as well. WNDB also lists many other resources and grants. And finally, Shelly Romero created this publishing industry resource document as well.
We have, of course, canceled all of our in-person events for the foreseeable future. We know there will be a day that we will get to be together, in person, again. But in the meantime, know that this community is still here; this network is forever yours. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here for you.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter full of industry spotlights and virtual book things to do. I also hope that you forgive yourself. That you tell yourself it’s okay, as in it’s okay if you’re not “your best” right now. You are doing what you can and in doing that you are being your best. Your best isn’t some concrete thing; it changes as you change, as the world changes. So, say no to what you need to and forgive yourself for any perceived shortcomings. And, find ways to ignore those who’d rather remind you of how you’re falling short.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones and I will do the same.
Sincerely,
Patrice
As sent to Fareeda Bullert
Why book publishing?
I went through a few different career paths before falling into book publishing! I thought I wanted to be a doctor; instead, I ended up teaching abroad for a few years before realizing that I could have a career in book publishing. It never occurred to me that you could get a job working in books! Like most people when they hear the words "book publishing," I wanted to be an editor, acquiring adult literary fiction. My very first job in publishing was in editorial at a small, independent academic publishing house. Then I got the opportunity to work in marketing at Little, Brown and I never looked back.
I've stayed with book publishing as I get to work with the most dedicated, passionate people who love what they do—and most importantly, who believe in the power of books—who believe that books can inspire, motivate, entertain, be anything you need them to be. And each person I've met in book publishing has been that person.
I am so happy I fell into marketing. It was a discipline I hadn't thought about before and probably would have never considered, if I didn't have that opportunity to work at Little, Brown! Marketing is constantly changing, so I am always thinking about how to use the information I have, use the knowledge I have learned, and apply it all together for a plan for today's and future consumer. It's such a fun field where I can be creative and try anything!
What adversities have you personally faced as a POC in publishing?
I have been very lucky that I haven't experienced any adversity based on my ethnicity. I have been very lucky to have had really supportive supervisors and coworkers helping me advance in my career and being there for me to talk through any issues and concerns I have. I know I am in the minority of that, and I try to pay it forward by offering to be a mentor at PRH and network and meet other POC.
What is the best advice you've received in publishing?
Don't burn bridges. My first publisher said that to me, and it's the best advice I've been given. The industry is small and everyone knows everyone, so it's important to remember that we are all here to bring great books into the world.
How do you think publishers can support POC in Publishing?
Some of the initiatives that have been going on, such as opening recruitment for interns at non-traditional schools and also changing requirements for entry-level, have been really beneficial to having a wider and more diverse set of candidates. I would like to see those initiatives to continue. I also would love to see more of an inclusive, speak up culture, similar to what Google does with their bottom up culture. A culture where inclusivity starts with entry-level employees having a say as equal to someone with years of experience. We can all learn from each other.
Jin Yu works in marketing at Berkley at Penguin Random House. She’s been in publishing for 10 years now, at various imprints (Rowman & Littlefield; Little, Brown; Ballantine; Atria; and now Berkley).
By Selihah White
Eso Won Books is one of the oldest black-owned bookstores in the country. A cultural landmark in the historic Leimert Park neighborhood of South Los Angeles, Eso Won books prides itself in being a home for Black authors and Black books. Owners James Fugate and Tom Hamilton first opened Eso Won in 1990 and have hosted book signings for Barack Obama, Misty Copeland, Ibram X. Kendi, Ta-Nehisi Coates and more. In addition to being an independent bookstore, it has gained a reputation for being a pillar in the Leimert Park community. Eso Won carries a wide array of books including YA fiction, photography books and cookbooks.
Location: 4327 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat from 10 AM to 7 PM and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM.
April 22-23 @ 8 AM-8PM
#DVpit
#DVpit is a Twitter event created to showcase pitches from marginalized voices that have been historically underrepresented in publishing. This includes (but is not limited to): Native peoples and people of color; people living and/or born/raised in underrepresented cultures and countries; disabled persons (including neurodiverse); people living with illness; people on marginalized ends of the cultural and/or religious spectrum; people identifying within LGBTQIA+; and more.
April 22, 2020 will be for Childrens & Teen Fiction/Nonfiction (picture books, chapter books, middle grade, young adult).
April 23, 2020 will be for Adult Fiction/Nonfiction (all genres, commercial and literary) using #DVpit; and for Artists & Illustrators using #DVart.
For more information, visit www.dvpit.com and @DVpit_ on Twitter.
April 23 @ 3 PM
Writing Difficult and Taboo Topics for Middle Grade with Aida Salazar
Explore how to write books based on real-life feelings and events not commonly seen in middle grade fiction. How can we use literature to help middle grade readers navigate the complexities and sometimes harsh realities of life? How do we incorporate taboo topics into our books while keeping young readers engaged and censors at bay? Register here!
April 24 @ 12 PM
World Building 101 with Kristina Pérez with LIVE Q&A
Do you love sci-fi and fantasy? Wondering how authors build their worlds from the ground up? Then sign up for the World Building 101 workshop, aimed at both readers and writers, for insight into creating complex, diverse worlds and techniques for developing your own.
Kristina Pérez is the author of YA Sci-Fi, The Tesla Legacy and the Sweet Black Waves trilogy which concludes this year with Bright Raven Skies. In this 60min interactive webinar, Kristina will guide you through the basics of world-building with reference to popular YA and adult fantasy and sci-fi novels. There will also be the opportunity to brainstorm our own world together and ask questions. Participants will leave with research tips, new resources, and the tools needed to bring new worlds to life—register here!
April 26 @ 2:30 PM
C.B. LEE in Conversation with BookTuber Mallory Cohen (“Mallorayofsunshine”) Follow @InterludePress for details.
April 26 @ 4:30 PM
The Cover Up: The Storytelling Art of Cover Illustration
Award-winning IP Art Director C.B. Messer in conversation with author Julian Winters. Follow @InterludePress for details.
April 26 @ 6 PM
YA IN SPAAAAAAACE!!: The Many Worlds Science Fiction & Fantasy YA
Space operas! Urban fantasies! Reimagined fairy tales! Science fiction and fantasy are a staple of Young Adult fiction, as well as some of the most popular queer YA reads. Our panel talks about the broad range of SFF-YA, and their places in it with authors Julia Ember, The Seafarer’s Kiss; The Navigator’s Touch; Kate Hazel Hall, From Darkness; C.B. Lee, The Sidekick Squad Series; Seven Tears at High Tide; and F.T. Lukens, The Broken Moon Series; The Rules and Regulations for Mediating Myths & Magic; Monster of the Week. Follow @InterludePress for details.
May 2 @ 2 PM
LGBTQIA+Mental Health Webinar and Writing Workshop with Live Q&A, Part 1 in a Mental Health Series
Author of The Grief Keeper Alexandra Villasante and author of The Truth Is NoNieqa Ramos will be in conversation about LGBTQIA+ mental health issues in our books, ourselves as writers—register here!
Content Warning for: depression, suicide, obsessive compulsive disorder, PTSD, homophobia, mass shooting
May 7 @ 4 PM
Ismée William Book Journey Interview with Zoraida Córdov
Join Ismée Williams for a LIVE insider interview with award-winning author, Zoraida Córdova. We will discuss her newest release, the epic fantasy Incendiary—register here!