Minorities In Publishing

Jenn speaks with author David Barclay Moore (The Stars Beneath Our Feet) about his trajectory from the Missouri to New York City, the healing capacity of the arts, his new middle grade book, and what he found to be the differences--from a craft perspective--between middle grade, young adult, and adult literature as a cross genre artist. 

[This interview was conducted via phone, post-editing may retain some audio variation.] In the 3-year anniversary episode of the Minorities in Publishing podcast, Jenn interviews author Jenny Zhang (Sour Heart; Dear Jenny, We Are All Find; The Selected) about her road to publication post-MFA program for her debut story collection, entering the poetry scene to gain community, and also taking stock of what a writer should look for when it comes to representation and publication.   

In the latest episode, Jenn speaks with author and diversity advocate Madhuri Pavamani (The Sanctum Trilogy) about her newly published books in The Keeper Series with St. Martin's Press, being a woman of color writing about people of color in genres (fantasy & romance) that have a dearth of those reputations, as well as how she divides her time between writing and being a practicing lawyer.

On the latest episode Jenn speaks with literary agent Saba Sulaiman about how she got into agenting and who may be a fit for this role in the industry, being a parent of a young child while navigating your career, and being an advocate at this time in the industry.

[This interview was conducted via Skype which may contribute to fluctuations in audio quality.] Marcus Kwame Anderson (illustrator for the comic Snow Daze and creator of the webcomic EastRaven) speaks to Jenn about the correlation of categories in the field of visual arts as compared to the written genre, how collaboration works from the illustrators perspective, and about his own projects and aims to create stories his own children can read and see themselves in.  Transcription of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumbler next to the episode link. 

[This interview was conducted via Skype, so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn spoke with founder and publisher of Koyama Press (which is celebrating their 10-year anniversary), Annie Koyama on how she got into publishing, the pursuit of doing what you love, the Con circuit, and the work involved behind small presses focusing on art books and visual stories. 

[Sound for this episode was edited by MR Daniel. Thanks MR!] On March 29th, the nonprofit I, Too, Arts Collective held a celebratory NYC book launch for Renée Watson's new young adult novel Piecing Me Together with Renée in conversation with National Book Award finalist Jason Reynolds at Langston Hughes' brownstone in East Harlem. The two read portions of their latest work; discuss creativity, legacy, and Black girlhood; and go on to answer questions from the audience. 

[This interview was conducted via Skype and sound was edited by MR Daniel.] In the latest episode Jenn interviews Rahul Mehta (Quarantine, No Other World) to discuss the process of promoting and writing his sophomore effort, being a writer from the Southern region and how little we hear about this area especially for marginalized artists, as well as the reality of writers block and how he pushed through to write a novel on the immigrant experience from the perspective of those raised in the United States. [The transcript for this episode can be found on the podcast Tumblr "Episodes" page.]

On the latest episode, Jenn speaks with writer, publicist, and social media editor Alaina Leary about the ways that have helped her get her pitches accepted by publications, how employers should be cognizant to the needs of disabled applicants and employees, and the job of a publicist who isn't in New York City.  [The transcript for this episode can be found on the podcast Tumblr "Episodes" page.]

Author of the Book of Addis series Brooke Obie speaks with Jenn about her debut novel, embracing dialect to tell the story she needed to, pursuing self-publication, the Neo-Slave Narrative, and the various avenues of support writers may receive and how to handle disappointment.

On the latest episode Jenn speaks with disability advocate, writer, and PhD candidate Lara Ameen on what accessibility really means for inclusivity, how few and far between disability representation is seen in media, and recognition of true ally-ship within the marginalized community. 

On the latest episode Jenn interviews 2016 Center For Fiction First Novel Prize winner Kia Corthron (The Castle Cross the Magnet Carter) about being an older debut novelist, the path to publication of an epic tome, and the reality of representing marginalized people both within and outside one's background. 

On the latest episode Jenn speaks with literary agent Mariette B. Zacker of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Topics they discuss include the range of knowledge for being an agent and using that to your advantage, the inaccuracy of anyone thinking that diversity is a "trend," as well as the necessary work yet to be done in publishing to make marginalized authors feel more welcome in an industry that has not always been welcoming. 

[Please note this episode was recorded over Skype, which may account for some audio variation and blips.] On the latest episode Jenn speaks with the New York Times bestselling authors of All American Boys Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds about their collaborative process--especially when it comes to such an important topic, their touring and experiences speaking on race relations and police brutality, being pigeonholed as a marginalized artist, as well as the work to be done and the importance of young readers being treated as adults. 

In the last of three episodes with this year's group of We Need Diverse Books' publishing interns, Jenn speaks with Jocquelle S. Caiby, Alexandra Hightower, and Jessica Howard about the realities of being a literary agent, including the financial side, and how that impacts the work they do while also reinforcing the passion they have to see more representation in books and clientele.

In the second of three episodes with this year's group of We Need Diverse Books' publishing interns, Jenn speaks with Maya Marlette and Rafiatou Ouro Aguy about their love of books leading them to publishing as a career option, the necessity of a paid internship, and how to navigate your way as you start off in the publishing industry.

In one of three episodes with this year's group of We Need Diverse Books' publishing interns, Jenn speaks with Manny Blasco, Pia Ceres, and Talia Chaves about how they found publishing, their journey to remain in the industry, and the importance of diversifying the field with paid internships and more outreach.

[This interview was conducted via Skype.] Jenn speaks with author of Insurrections, professor, and satire editor for Queen Mob's Rion Amilcar Scott about his debut story collection, the myth that stories about Black people are only for Black people, as well as the understanding achieved from writing an "unpublishable" book before a publishable one came along.

The latest episode is the second half of a live panel held at BookCourt on June 27th called "The Realities of Publishing." Panelists included previous MiP guests Diana Pho and Ebony LaDelle, as well as Stephanie Jimenez, Todd Hunter, and Connor Goldsmith speaking to their positions in publishing, how they got where they are, and tips for new applicants seeking to gain entry into the industry.

On this episode Jenn speaks with Nahshon Anderson who has won a Brio award, Lambda Literary fellowship, and is a NYSCA panelist about Nahshon's memoir-in-progress Shooting Range, being diligent in the pursuit of funding as an artist, and also Nahshon's trajectory from working in entertainment to building a life as a writer.