Diversity in publishing is becoming more and more important as the industry grows to understand its role in providing a mirror of society and sees the opportunity to build empathy in all readers. But what about diversity among speakers at author visits, conferences and festivals? Should librarians and event organizers be thinking diversely as they plan their year-long programming?
We talked to our client Cynthia Leitich Smith about her work with the We Need Diverse Books organization and what we should know about diversity on a speaker level.
Booking Biz: Hey, Cynthia! You’re on the honorary advisory board of We Need Diverse Books. Tell us about the organization.
Cynthia: We Need Diverse Books is a non-profit, grassroots organization of advocates who’re taking concrete action to change children’s-YA publishing. Our goal is to make the body of literature for young readers more inclusive. We define “diversity” broadly to encompass the LGBTQIA community, Native/First Nations members, people of color, people with disabilities as well as ethnic, cultural and religious minorities, among others.
How does this manifest on a practical level? In so many exciting ways!
- We sponsor the Walter Award to honor and raise awareness of excellent books and the Walter Grant to provide financial support to unpublished writers from unrepresented communities.
- We sponsor book giveaways and author visits for socio-economically disadvantaged schools.
- We award supplemental grants to aspiring industry professionals in support of internships.
- Our mentorship programs pair established authors and illustrators with beginners in the apprenticeship stage.
- We also host developmental writing retreats for diverse authors and those telling diverse stories.
- We have made available the OurStory app to aid in the awareness of diverse titles.
- Our WNDB Bookseller of the Year Award recognizes and facilitates efforts at independent stores to connect diverse titles to customers.
- We’ve also partnered with Scholastic to offer a curated selection of diverse books through its book-fairs program.
- And finally, we publish our own outstanding anthologies.
Booking Biz: Why did you get involved in this effort?
Cynthia: I’ve been involved in the conversation around diverse voices and representation in the world of books for young readers for about twenty years. The advocacy and educational effort is still necessary. But so is action—money, movement, connections, publications. An organized and sustained effort. A multi-prong plan that involves every step from creative inspiration to positive changes in our world that benefit young readers, that benefit us all.
Any kid can be a hero that everybody cheers. Their most successful books and storytellers should reflect and herald that. Time to make it happen. The need is long pending—the need is now.
Any kid can be a hero that everybody cheers. Their most successful books and storytellers should reflect and herald that.
Booking Biz: We know diversity in books is important. How does that translate to school visits and festivals?
Cynthia: We can and should talk about what Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop has framed as the need for windows, mirrors and sliding glass doors. We can and should talk about the power of author/illustrator role-modeling. (Get resources about diversity themes and community in children’s and young adult literature.)
But first, let’s celebrate quality. The high performance of diverse author-speakers, the excellence of many diverse books.
Schools must highlight, through author-illustrator programming, a diversity (defined broadly) of fabulous fiction and narrative nonfiction so their kids connect with some of the best, most compelling and entertaining stories.
Schools must take an inclusive approach to speakers, because that way students will connect with some of the most talented, engaging and inspiring book creators.
Showcase Don Tate and Carole Boston Weatherford and Lamar Giles and Uma Krishnaswami and Kwame Alexander because they are radiant. Empowering. Accomplished. Dynamic. Charismatic. Brilliant. And so are their stories.
(Get resources for diversity and inclusion on children’s and young-adult books.)
Schools must take an inclusive approach to speakers, because that way students will connect with some of the most talented, engaging and inspiring book creators.
Booking Biz: With all this in mind, do you have tips on how librarians and festivals organizers should plan their events?
Cynthia: Most important? Bring the enthusiasm. To the extent possible, introduce kids to the speakers and their books ahead of time.
Think about a balance of voices, their idiosyncratic and intersecting perspectives, because that will make for a richer, more layered and interesting conversation. It’ll allow more kids to vicariously see themselves in what’s happening. It’ll allow more kids an opportunity for new and deeper connections with others, heightened empathy.
Think about a balance of voices, their idiosyncratic and intersecting perspectives, because that will make for a richer, more layered and interesting conversation. It’ll allow more kids to vicariously see themselves in what’s happening. It’ll allow more kids an opportunity for new and deeper connections with others, heightened empathy.
Booking Biz: Do you have any authors and illustrators you’d recommend?
Cynthia: Oh, wow! Too many to list. For today, I’ll highlight Mitali Perkins and Kelly Starling Lyons. For the strength of their presentations and bodies of creative work but also for the leadership qualities that they exude. They have so much good to say and communicate it so well.
I’d also like to recommend a few of my fellow Native writers—invite Eric Gansworth or Rebecca Roanhorse or Tim Tingle to participate on a panel. Check out new voices Traci Sorell and Dawn Quigley. Some of the best writers publishing today are Indigenous, and that intertribal community of authors and illustrators is growing and vital to all young readers. (Get educator resources about Native/First Nations children’s and young adult literature.)
Booking Biz: Very informative. Thank you, Cynthia!
Cynthia Leitich Smith is the New York Times best-selling author of picture books through young adult novels, most recently the Feral series. Her upcoming young adult novel HEARTS UNBROKEN is an own-voice novel about a teen girl discovering the difficulties of “dating while Native.” The novel will be released Oct. 9 by Candlewick.