Recognizing the historical underrepresentation and biases within the publishing industry, IBPA recently launched the Innovative Voices Program. This initiative aims to empower publishers from marginalized communities who are dedicated to sharing stories and perspectives that are often overlooked in traditional publishing.
IBPA has always championed the cause of inclusivity in the publishing world. However, in 2020, the association officially acknowledged the industry’s legacy of privilege, bias, and exclusion. This realization prompted IBPA to deepen its commitment to DEI. The association's board-approved DEI Commitment serves as a guiding light, seeking to rectify historical injustices by fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of its operation.
In May 2023 at IBPA Publishing University, IBPA unveiled the new program, reaffirming its dedication to DEI. The program’s mission is clear: to support publishers from marginalized communities who are dedicated to creating literature that speaks to the experiences, concerns, and aspirations of marginalized communities.
The Innovative Voices Program is a year-long journey that empowers and equips five selected publishers with the tools and knowledge necessary to succeed in an industry that has too often excluded them. The inaugural group commenced their journey on August 1, 2023, and their “graduation” is slated for the end of July 2024.
The Innovative Voices Program is designed to be a transformative experience for its participants. These pioneering publishers were chosen because they are producing exceptional and original titles that amplify the voices of marginalized communities. By sharing these diverse stories, they are not only revolutionizing the publishing landscape but also contributing to positive societal change.
The program offers a lifeline to publishers who may have faced systemic barriers and discrimination in their publishing endeavors. It seeks to break down the doors that have been closed to innovative voices for far too long. Through mentorship, training, and resources, these publishers will gain access to the knowledge and tools needed to flourish in an industry where they have historically been underrepresented.
IBPA’s Innovative Voices Program is a testament to the association’s unwavering commitment to DEI. This program will not only empower marginalized publishers but also enrich the literary landscape with a diverse array of stories and perspectives. With the inaugural group’s journey, we anticipate a positive ripple effect throughout the industry.
The first group includes Ambika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh at Sambasivan & Parikh; Justine Eva Li Villanueva at Sawaga River Press; Kathy Crutcher at Shout Mouse Press; Tamara Mayo at Taevo Publishing; and Keiko O’Leary, Anthony Francis, Betsy Miller, and Liza Olmsted at Thinking Ink Press.
Sambasivan & Parikh
Ambika Sambasivan and Suhani Parikh
Ambika Sambasivan, left, and Suhani Parikh, right.
We are co-publishers at Sambasivan & Parikh, a community-centered children’s press working to foster a more equitable and just future through the power of storytelling. Our partnership brings together our independently founded presses, Yali Books and Modern Marigold Books, to create a platform for underrepresented voices in children’s literature built on empathy and respect.
We are women of South Asian descent who draw upon our diverse subidentities to guide our publishing process from acquisition to sales. At Sambasivan & Parikh, we are working to build a publishing company that goes beyond token representation toward true inclusion and equity. Through various partnerships, we develop books and learning tools that create spaces for education, placing powerful tools for social change in the hands of educators, families, and community advocates. Our imprints champion our deeply held values. Yali Books celebrates the breathtaking diversity within the South Asian global community while challenging systemic biases and marginalization within our societies. Modern Marigold Books amplifies the experiences of first-generation families to promote social and emotional growth rooted in identity.
Our next book coming out that serves this community is Arthi’s Bomma, which is a Yali Books imprint with a publish date of September 21, 2023. This joyful picture book is an ode to the traditional craftspeople of Kondapalli, India, and a shared appreciation of handmade objects in the digital age.
When we’re not working on building our publishing business, we enjoy being a part of the alopecia community. Suhani enjoys volunteering her time toward various outreach and awareness-building efforts—including free virtual storytimes for schools—and being a resource and advocate for other members of the community. Passionate about strengthening the indie publishing community, Ambika serves on the board of South Asian Kidlit, a global, volunteer-led group of independent authors and publishers looking to support and learn from each other.
Sawaga River Press
Justine Eva Li Villanueva
I am an Asian American woman and a Pinay. I was born and raised in Bukidnon, Philippines, immigrated to the United States when I was 17, and am now learning to belong in the unceded homeland of the Patwin people in Davis, California. In the diasporic Filipina/o/x American (Fil-Am) community, we strive to remember where we come from, including our diverse histories, languages, and ancestral ways of being. We honor the indigenous Filipino spirit of Kapwa, which instructs us to be in right relationships with ourselves, the land, and our human and more-than-human kin by practicing self and community care. We endeavor to heal from the trauma brought on by colonization and stand in solidarity with other communities of color and other marginalized groups to achieve social justice and belonging. As founder of Sawaga River Press, I support our Fil-Am community’s collective celebrations and yearnings by providing the opportunity and space to share stories about us, for us, and by us. We publish multilingual children’s books that celebrate Fil-Am kids, culture, identity, history, and future. Sawaga River Press and the IBPA Innovative Voices Program fit well together because we share some of the same values—diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging—that inform our current and future goals.
Our next book coming out that serves this community is slated to come out this winter 2023. Mungan and Her Lola is about a Fil-Am girl who strives to care for her Lola who is grieving. This book highlights mental well-being through Filipino collective rituals of care and the healing powers of remembrance and (oral) storytelling.
When I’m not working on building my publishing business, I enjoy dancing and choreographing. It is my utmost dream to one day adapt our children’s books into dance or play productions for the community to enjoy.
Shout Mouse Press
Kathy Crutcher
Kathy Crutcher, top middle, and her team.
Shout Mouse Press is a woman-founded nonprofit arts organization and publishing house for underrepresented youth voices, including immigrant, incarcerated, Black, Muslim, Latinx, and otherwise marginalized youth in the Greater Washington, D.C., area. We have helped provide platforms for over 500 new youth authors through the publication of 50+ diverse and inclusive books that are read in homes and schools across the country.
Shout Mouse Press amplifies the voices of marginalized youth via writing workshops, book publication, and public speaking opportunities. Our original children’s books, comics, novels, memoirs, and poetry collections are inspired by the authors’ own lived experiences and engage readers of all backgrounds, providing authentic stories that foster community, expand empathy, and educate a more just and inclusive next generation. Our authors’ courage to put themselves authentically on the page influences how young people understand their own potential, perceive and treat others, and eventually either participate in—or fight against—inequity and injustice.
Our next book coming out that serves this community is in November 2023 with the next three books in our Beyond Borders bilingual children’s book series. This series celebrates young authors from the Latin American Youth Center here in Washington, D.C., using their own lived experiences to inspire endearing and authentic stories centering on immigrant families. The titles coming out next explore a range of experiences from three diverse perspectives: of a young child leaving home to immigrate to the U.S., a child trying to honor his immigrant family’s hard work and support, and honoring lost loved ones and legacies in the face of gentrification.
The Shout Mouse Press team is composed of practicing artists, poets, and writers who live, work, and create in the Greater Washington, D.C., area. In addition to the work that we do supporting underheard youth authors, members of our team provide sex-positive education, write queer speculative fiction, lead poetry nights, advocate for reproductive justice, and raise children to be good humans.
Taevo Publishing
Tamara Mayo
I am the founder and CEO of Taevo Publishing, a traditional publishing house geared toward promoting the works of underserved Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) women writers. I was raised in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, where my love of reading sprouted into a hunger to play an active role in spreading diversity, equity, and inclusion in the publishing industry. My publishing expertise incorporates 15+ years of experience in digital publishing, online instruction, and more.
Taevo Publishing is a Black-owned, woman-owned traditional publishing house based in a marginalized and underserved community. Taevo is an ambitious company that can utilize the resources, tools, and technical assistance necessary to scale our company and bring our vision of radical diversity and inclusion to an underserved community of writers, readers, and publishing professionals to fruition.
Our next books coming out that serve this community is The Big Black Book of BIPOC Publishers in November 2023, Flames of Redemption: The Eternal Goddess of Flames, Book Two in December 2023, and A,E,I,O,U & Y: The Long Vowel Friends in January 2024.
When I’m not working on building my publishing business, I am participating in book exchanges and giveaways, hosting events that connect local up-and-coming writers with local readers, helping out with community gardens, and supporting domestic violence shelters.
Thinking Ink Press
Keiko O’Leary, Anthony Francis, Betsy Miller, Liza Olmsted
Thinking Ink Press is run by Anthony Francis, Betsy Miller, Liza Olmsted, and Keiko O’Leary. Anthony (he) is an Epic-award-winning author of the Dakota Frost urban fantasy series. Keiko (she/they) is the Poet Laureate of Cupertino, California, and author of Your Writing Matters. Betsy (she) is the author of many disability-focused books and a recurring IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards judge. Liza (they) is the editor of many books, including the forthcoming science fiction anthology Neurodiversiverse.
We believe that people of all backgrounds deserve to have their voices heard. We belong to and serve disability communities, the LGBTQ+ community, and the neurodivergent community, among others. We publish books relating to disability, writing advice and inspiration, and diverse speculative fiction. We also publish innovative formats such as flash fiction postcards and mini-books folded from a single sheet of paper. We’re a good fit for this program because our mission, to publish books that connect authors who might not otherwise be heard with audiences who might not otherwise be reached, aligns with the program’s values, and we would benefit from your help.
Our next book coming out that serves this community will be in the fall of 2024. It’s called Neurodiversiverse, a science fiction anthology of short stories, poetry, and art about neurodivergent people encountering aliens. We are particularly interested in representation, empowerment, and the voices of neurodivergent people—especially stories that highlight how neurodivergent perspectives and experiences might give advantages when dealing with aliens. We’re explicitly inviting people with intersectional backgrounds to submit pieces.
When we’re not working on building our publishing business, Anthony writes scientific papers about robotics and artificial intelligence and gives talks that help writers use science in their work. Keiko volunteers at her kids’ school, teaching calligraphy, art, and writing. Last year, she created a course called Personal Activism to help eighth graders use their daily interactions to stand up for what they believe in. Liza is an active member of their local trans community and a big advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace and in the world. Betsy is on the board of Clubfoot CARES, on the International Hip Dysplasia Institute advisory committee, and has done pro bono work for the Perthes Kids Foundation.