Minorities In Publishing

This is a live recording of the Minorities in Publishing podcast hosted at The Westport Library on September 21st as part of the 2024 StoryFest line up. Audio was provided by Travis Bell (The Westport Library).  StoryFest 2024 welcomed Jenn and fellow 2023 debut authors Don P. Hooper (True True) and Shannon C.F. Rogers (I'd Rather Burn Than Bloom and Eighteen Roses) about their respective year as debut authors in the young adult space. The group discusses expectations, surprises, and the ways they found community to help one another through a somewhat emotional, uplifting, and unpredictable time in their creative and professional lives.  [You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, transcripts, and new eps on the MiP website here.] This month's ewsletter was sponsored by Writeability, a nonprofit writers guild, in defense of the imagination.

  [This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] Newly anointed MacArthur Fellow and best-selling, award-winning author Jason Reynolds returns to the MiP podcast for the 10th anniversary year! His new book, Twenty-Four Seconds From Now, joins the compendium of many of Jason's love stories for and featuring young people. Jason speaks to the transparency of larger conversations around intimacy--what it means, feels like, and actually looks like outside of "mainstream" representation--the multidudes of love in relationships and storytelling, as well as a very necessary need for more discourse around the emotions that come with Black male's sexual experiences. Particularly the need for more tenderness. [You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, transcripts, and new eps on the MiP website here.] This month's episode & newsletter were sponsored by Writeability, a nonprofit writers guild, in defense of the imagination. Intro/Outro music is by Mo

[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] Continuing the podcast's 10th anniversary year, Jenn speaks with book influencer--bookstagrammer and booktoker elite--Lupita Aquino! Lupita keeps it real about the influencer life, setting boundaries, reading for the joy of it, and the ways the book influencer space has changed over the years. In this very illuminating and fun convo, Lupita also gets honest about the juggle of advocating for books while also holding down other responsibilities and interests.  [You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, transcripts, and new eps on the MiP website here.] This month's episode & newsletter were sponsored by Writeability, a nonprofit writers guild, in defense of the imagination. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat.

[This interview was conducted online and there may be some audio variation.] As the 10th-anniversary year continues, Jenn welcomes debut author Danica Nava (The Truth According to Ember) for some laughs around romance shenanigans! Danica breaks down what often makes a rom-com while increasing the stakes for characters, she discusses the necessity of representing the reality of Indigenous characters within all genres through hardships and highlights, and what it's like being one of the first Indigenous writers of a romantic comedy to be traditionally published.  [You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.] This month's episode & newsletter were sponsored by Writeability, a nonprofit writers guild, in defense of the imagination. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat.

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes Nick Medina to the podcast! Nick Medina is the author of the novels Indian Burial Ground and Sisters of the Lost Nation. In this episode, Nick discusses the many drafts that lead to his first book deal, how horror can represent some of the truest and most potent emotions as a genre, and how he wove cultural and fantastical elements into his latest novel.  [You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.] This month's episode & newsletter were sponsored by Writeability, a nonprofit writers guild, in defense of the imagination. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat.

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat] Continuing the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes another Newbery honoree in Veera Hiranandani! Veera her new middle-grade novel, a follow-up to the award-winning The Night Diary, Amil and the After. Veera also discusses how writing a book about a massive historical event like The Partition of India reflects the ongoing effects/repercussions for the communities (and world) involved, the ways in which we can parse out our own questions through fiction, and how healing can happen through writing and for the characters depicted. [You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here. Transcript of this episode is TK.] This month's episode & newsletter were sponsored by Writeability, a nonprofit writers guild, in defense of the imagination.

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation. Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat] (Content Warning: At around the 20-minute mark there is mention of the video of Ahmaud Arbery's death and the last words of Elijah McClain when Alicia mentions participating in NaNoWriMo. If this may be triggering, please skip forward by 2 minutes and 30 seconds.) Continuing the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes Newbery honoree and Coretta Scott King awardee Alicia D. Williams! Alicia discusses her new middle-grade novel in verse MID-AIR and how the narrative form scared but called to her, the connections her books exploring the multifaceted nature of grief, the paralysis of writing this second novel after your first receives so much acclaim, the need for more representation of soft-hearted Black boys in books, and the beauty of fully being able to express yourself when you find the story that moves you. [You can sign up for the MiP monthly ne

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes recent Newbery honoree and Pura Belpré winning author/illustrator Pedro Martín! Pedro talks about his entry into books from creating greeting cards, how the Mexikid online comic expanded even more with his award-winning book, learning lots about publishing his debut and how to consider young readers in storytelling, aplus how he approaches humor in his illustrations, especially when touching on aspects of his childhood/family.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn welcomes back best-selling & award-winning author Renée Watson for her fourth episode (in a year she has 4 books publishing)! We discussed Renée origins in storytelling as a poet and playwright when she started a performing arts company in high school, her new book of poetry BLACK GIRL YOU ARE ATLAS (illustrated by Ekua Holmes), the benefits & necessity of poetry--and poetry for young people--in her work as a teaching-artist, and how early rejections can lead to big successes.   [Transcript of this episode can be found on Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.] Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat.

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] For the 10th anniversary year of Minorities in Pub, Jenn speaks with author Matt Mendez about his new young adult novel, The Broke Hearts, a companion to his debut YA Barely Missing Everything. Jenn and Matt discuss the unrealistic expectations of knowing your path at a young age, male representation for young readers, and parental influence on young people not only in life but in writing for younger readers.  [Transcript of episodes can be found on Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.] Intro/Outro music is by Moutaineer and licensed through Premuim Beat.

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with editor and graphic novelist/author Elizabeth Agyemang (Fibbed) about her debut middle grade, finding space for her professional and creative life, how she's learned that incremental progress is still progress in all aspects of our work, and the inherent struggles creators of color face when the expectations are not balanced (or unbiased).  [Transcript of this episode can be found on Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with Candlewick publicity manager Jamie Tan (a 2020 PW StarWatch honoree and CBC Diversity Achievement Awardee) and former Candlewick outreach manager Ally Russell (whose debut middle grade It Comes From Trees pubs in 2024). They discuss working outside of NYC in the publishing industry and the reality of what hybrid work has looked like for their positions, what drew them to the industry and keeps them in publishing, in addition to the added emotional labor BIPOC take on in speaking up about issues in the workplace.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with debut novelist Namrata Poddar about her book Border Less (longlisted for the 2022 Center of Fiction First Novel Prize), pursuing publication with an small press versus a Big 5 publisher, the "classic" question of marketability versus craft that BIPOC writers especially face when publishing their work, and one's intentionality in not only their writing but what their expectations are when it comes to publication.   (We also mention Book Coaching and the Unicorn Authors Club that you can learn more about at their website.) [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with TV writer and journalist Kashana Cauley author of the debut novel The Survivalists out now from Soft Skull Press. Kashana talks about the many drafts before this novel came to fruition, how juggling several career paths helped her stay on the path to writing, and how this novel's themes apply to what she's seen and observed about New York City (and people) at large.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted via Zoom with several participants, so there may be some audio variation.] Ten days into the HarperCollins Union strike, four employees and union members--Doris, Genessee, Ahmunet, and Parrish--spoke to Jenn about the requests the union has made to HarperCollins, how to support those on strike, on why they believe in the work they do as both publishing professionals and in being vocal on pushing for a contract renewal, as well as what it's been like on (and off) the picket line. As of this episode posting, the strike is now on Day 26 with no response from HarperCollins management. Listeners can follow the HCP Union on Instagram and Twitter as well as go to their LinkTree for assets, to sign their solidarity letter, for information on how to donate and about their 12/16 Rally in the Financial District.   [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with associate production editor, Kaitlyn San Miguel, about her switch from editorial to production in children's lit, adapting to a white collar and white dominant work space, and why the production department spoke to her love of books.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with production editor, Carla Benton, about the specifics of the role of the production editor in trade publishing, how more remote positions may help with representation in the publishing landscape, and how some may look into freelancing by using social media to connect with other production editors in the industry.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online and is an overseas conversation so there may be some audio variation.] Jenn speaks with illustrator/author, Kate Gavino about her latest graphic novel A Career in Books will publish on August 2nd. Kate discusses how life imitated art--and was fictionalized--for her latest book, the experiences that led her to leave the industry and pursue life as an artist, inequality in the workplace economically and the importance of AAPI representation in her book to reflect an honest experience of entry-level workers in publishing. [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation. Please note there's also a dog in the background.] Jenn speaks with former senior social media manager, In the Books IGLive host, and writer Zakiya Jamal about the role of social media depts at book publishers, her recent departure, and the importance of salary transparency in the workplace for establishing equity.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]

[This interview was conducted online so there may be some audio variation.] New York Times bestselling author, Samira Ahmed, speaks to Jenn about her new YA novel Hollow Fires, the reasons why diversity panels should always have been craft discussion panels, how her past experience dictates her approach to writing, and how much she loves engaging with young readers for pertinent discussions as they inherit the world we live in.  [Transcript of this episode can be found on the Episodes page of the podcast Tumblr. You can sign up for the MiP monthly newsletter with job listings, guest news, and new eps here.]