About the movement
On April 15, in response to Simon & Schuster’s planned distribution of a book by one of Breonna Taylor’s murderers, Jess (@literaryintersections) and Mel (@bookrecsbymel) asked the Instagram book community what they were willing to risk in order to fight against racism, white supremacy, and oppression. The following day, they shared a call to action, initiating a social campaign to demand publishers to take action and make change.
Our mission
Dear Publishers is an advocacy group working to hold the publishing industry (publishing houses, literary agencies, and third-party marketing companies) accountable for racist and other oppressive policies and practices in order to help create an equitable publishing industry for all.
Our vision
Dear Publishers envisions a world where equity and inclusion in publishing are standard. A world where authors of color, LGBTQIA+ authors, and authors with disabilities are uplifted and amplified. Where pay gaps and discrepancies across marketing budgets are eliminated. Where publishing houses, literary agencies, and third-party marketing companies interrogate their white supremacist practices, create clear values of inclusion and anti-racism, and stand by those values in all facets of their business. We will meet this vision by advocating alongside the publishing workforce, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, exposing racist and problematic behaviors within the industry, and demanding justice and accountability at every turn.
Meet the founders
Jess Lee
Pronouns: She/Her • Instagram: @literaryintersections
Roles: Founder / Events Co-Lead
Jess mobilized Dear Publishers because as a leader of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Equity, she is dedicated to providing inclusive spaces for learning, challenging, and growth. An avid reader, Jess’ aim is to share and amplify works primarily featuring authors and characters from non-dominant identities, with a goal to dismantle white supremacy and racism in personal and professional spaces. She lives on Nipmuc and Narragansett land.
Mel Gill
Pronouns: She/Her • Instagram: @bookrecsbymel
Roles: Co-founder/ Events Co-lead / Email Lead
Mel joined the Dear Publishers movement because as a small business owner in the book community she works towards dismantling white supremacy. As a young immigrant from Lima, Peru, books are what kept her safe but she never saw herself in them. As an adult, it has become important to her to see herself, her culture, and those around her in books. As a small business owner she created a business to amplify the voices of her community as well as those communities that have been silenced for too long because the publishing industry doesn't do it enough or as loud as their white counterparts. Enough is enough.
Meet the team
Alejandro Salas
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Instagram: @alejandro.reads
Role: Equity & Justice Research Lead
Alejandro joined Dear Publishers because the white supremacist pacticies within the publishing industry need to be unearthed and dismantled. Alejandro is passionate about community organizing and advocacy with a specific focus on rethinking school discipline and creating brave spaces for undocumented youth in schools. Alejandro is currently a 9th grade English teacher and lives on stolen Karankawa land.
Amy Truckner
Pronouns: She/Her
Instagram: @sips.and.sequels
Role: Social Media Lead
Amy has always held a passion for learning through stories. She joined Dear Publishers to advocate for more diverse literature and to dismantle oppressive practices within the publishing industry so those stories can be told. As a Data Analyst by day and bookworm 24/7, the book community has made a major impact on the way she looks at the world. She believes that the stories of marginalized groups deserve a larger platform in order to drive larger change. Amy currently lives on Skaruhreh/Tuscarora and Lumbee land.
Fiona Bransgrove
Pronouns: She/Her
Instagram: @adastra_stories
Role: Design & Branding Lead
After spending years working at a public library, Fiona joined Dear Publishers because she wants libraries’ shelves to be anti-racist and intersectional. Fiona works remotely for a psychiatry firm, as a freelance designer. She currently lives on Cowlitz land.
Swati Sudarsan
Pronouns: She/Her
Instagram: @booksnailmail
Role: Communications & PR Co-Lead
Swati joined Dear Publishers because she wants to see a world where publishing is so diverse that genres need not be defined by identities. Until then, she will work to amplify marginalized literature. Swati works in public health research, and she currently lives on Ohlone land.
Anonymous
Dear Publishers works with a number of team leads and volunteers who have chosen to remain anonymous.
Get in touch.
As advocates for our community, Dear Publishers is constantly seeking ways to improve, learn, and build in our message to publishers. We're tackling big issues and want to be as inclusive as possible, while also holding publishers to the same standards.
Please take a moment to leave feedback on ways we can do better or even notes of encouragement!