A.C.T.O.R. presents The Color of Publishing
Date and Time
May 4, 2014 5:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
May 4, 2014 5:00 pm
14th & V
A.C.T.O.R. presents The Color of Publishing
Join us for a discussion focused on w ho gets book deals in today's literary landscape, and how are small presses challenging the status quo?Â
A distinguished panel includes:Â
Much has been made of the potentially endangered state of literary publishing in the age of the e-book, Amazon, and risk-averse trade presses. A national count of major magazine and literary-journal bylines, by VIDA: Women in the Literary Arts, revealed a startling gender imbalance. But what about racial diversity? It's no secret that authors and poets of color have been underrepresented in literary circles. Some small presses have taken matters in their own hands: D.C. poet and Cave Canem fellow Alan King referred to the Detroit-based Aquarius Press, whose Willow Books imprint published his first book Drift in 2012, as "the Motown of literary publishing." American University Journalism professor Angie Chuang's first book, a dual memoir titled The Four Words for Home, was just published by Willow in March 2014, as part of their first-ever Literature Awards to promote and publish the voices of underrepresented, multicultural writers.Â
Angie Chuang and Alan King will be joined by Aquarius Press / Willow Books founder Heather Buchanan-Gueringer and editor Dr. Randall Horton, on faculty at the University of New Haven, to discuss the state of diversity and race in the literary publishing landscape. Do independent, people-of-color-owned presses hold the answer, or are they letting the mainstream presses off the hook in the quest to insure more voices are heard? How can aspiring authors from diverse backgrounds break into today's publishing world? Chuang and King will also read from and sign their books.Â
The A.C.T.O.R. (A Continuing Talk on Race) open discussion series is produced and hosted by Busboys and Poets as a community service. It provides the opportunity for people to come together and speak openly and honestly about issues of race. The intent is that each person walks away from the discussion feeling something: challenged, educated, uncomfortable, enlightened, refreshed, reassured and hopefully inspired and moved to action! Each month there is a new topic for discussion with a Busboys and Poets-sponsored facilitator.
Free and open to all. To be added to the A.C.T.O.R. email list, please email press@busboysandpoets.comÂ
A.C.T.O.R. is held on the first Sunday of every month at Busboys and Poets 14 th & V; 5:00 PM.
