We believe quality work featuring diverse content is out there, but we have to seek it out instead of waiting for it to come to us—as is often the case with all brilliant manuscripts. But once we have that brilliant manuscript in hand, we also have to seek out opportunities to market and promote them. Here are some resources to find authors and manuscripts and tools to place them in the market. This is by no means yet a comprehensive list, so we do invite you to contact us and alert us of resources we have missed.
Where to Find Writers of Diverse Material
Black Writer’s Conference
“Provides writers, scholars, literary professionals, students, and the general public with a forum for engaging in dynamic and spirited conversations, panel discussions, readings, workshops, and performances on themes related to migration, cultural memory, popular culture, and the natural environment.”
http://www.nationalblackwritersconference.org/program.html
The Asian American Writers’ Workshop
“AAWW is national not-for-profit arts organization devoted to the creating, publishing, developing and disseminating of creative writing by Asian Americans through NYC events and online editorial initiative.”
http://www.aaww.org
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
SCBWI is one of the largest nonprofit organizations for writers and illustrators in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film, television, and multimedia.
http://www.scbwi.org
Book Country
Book Country is “an online community where readers and writers of genre fiction come together to read original fiction, post work or comments, and make a name for themselves.” This community is a subsidiary of Penguin Group (USA).
http://bookcountry.com
Authonomy
Authonomy is “a writing community site for writers, readers and publishers conceived and developed by book editors at HarperCollins.”
http://www.authonomy.com
Figment
Figment is “an online community where you can share your writing, connect with other readers, and discover new stories and authors.” Houses a diverse collection of genres and themes.
http://figment.com
Comadres y Compadres Writers Conference
This yearly NYC conference fosters a large network of Latino writers, providing them with access to publishing professionals who have a proven track record of publishing Latino literature.
http://www.lascomadres.org/lco/lco-eng/index.html
National Latino Writers Conference
Every two years the National Latino Writers Conference is held to expose fiction and nonfiction writers to authors, agents, and editors.
http://www.nationalhispaniccenter.org/
Where to Market Books Featuring Diverse Content
Recommended Blogs
Reading in Color
Reading in Color is a book blog focused on YA/MG reviews of books about people of color. An interactive blog that aims to start discussions.
http://blackteensread2.blogspot.com
Cynsations
Cynsations is the blog of YA novelist and children’s book author Cynthia Leitich Smith. It houses conversations, publishing information, literacy and free speech advocacy, writer resources, inspiration, bookseller-librarian-teacher appreciation, news in children's and young adult literature, and author outreach.
http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com
The Happy Nappy Bookseller
Reviews of picture books, early chapter books, and middle grade books.
http://thehappynappybookseller.blogspot.com
Crazy Quilt Edi
This is the blog of high school librarian Edi Campbell who works to improve the literary and media literacy of teens of color. Her blog houses reviews, booklists, movie lists, and other diversity resources.
http://campbele.wordpress.com
The Brown Bookshelf
The Brown Bookshelf is a website curated by authors and illustrators that works to raise awareness about children’s, Middle Grade, and Young Adult books written by people of color.
http://thebrownbookshelf.com
Zetta Elliot
Zetta Elliot is a black feminist writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels, and stories for children. Her blog features a collection of her essays as well as information about her books and workshops.
http://zettaelliott.wordpress.com
Mitali Perkins
Mitali Perkins is a young adult novelist who draws upon her multicultural upbringing in her books, frequently about bridging the gap between cultures.
http://www.mitaliblog.com
I’m Here, I’m Queer, What the Hell Do I Read?
Writer, Blogger, and Speaker Out Lee Wind curates a site where LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning) and gender non-conforming youth, their allies, teachers, and librarians post and read each other’s reviews of LGBTQ-themed YA books.
http://www.leewind.org
Guy’s Read
Jon Scieszka, former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, aims to combat the recent decline in young male readers with this exciting website. This website collects titles that boys enjoy reading and provides fun recommendations to keep them interested in books.
Recommended Websites
Mosaic
“Mosaic Literary Magazine is a quarterly publication exploring the literary arts created by writers of African descent. Through articles, essays, book reviews, and interviews Mosaic has increased the literary reach of some of the most important voices effecting change on many artistic fronts.”
http://mosaicmagazine.org/blog
Mamiverse
“An online hub for Latina moms and families,” Mamiverse describes itself as “…a community, news, and lifestyle site for like-minded women, with content that speaks to specific cultural perspectives and needs.”
http://www.mamiverse.com
African American Literary Book Club
AALBC is “the largest and most frequently visited (Based on Alexa.com and others) web site dedicated to books and film by and about people of African descent…[it] is a widely recognized source of author profiles, book reviews, book recommendations, active discussions, writer resources, interviews, articles, videos, and film reviews.”
http://aalbc.com
Black Expressions Book Club
Members get great deals on hand-selected books in a range of genres that were written for and by African Americans. The site also helps users discover new titles with ease.
http://www.blackexpressions.com
Latino Book Club
“The Latina Book Club’s goal is to promote Latino authors and literacy by reading at least one Latino book a month…It’s also an attempt to embrace our Hispanic heritage; make new friends; and have something to read on the subway.”
http://www.latinabookclub.com
CBC Diversity Marketing and Publicity Partners
Rockelle Henderson, Independent Marketing Consultant
Lilly Ghahremani, Founder of Lucky 13 Strategies
Gilda Squire, President of Gilda Squire Media Relations
Adriana Dominguez, Agent at Full Circle Literary Agency
Carol Mackey, Editor-in-Chief of Black Expressions Book Club
Troy Johnson and Ron Kavanagh, Founders of AALBC
Cecil Castellucci, YA Editor at Los Angeles Review of Books
Dawn Turner Trice, Metro Columnist at the Chicago Tribune
