Happy Saturday, y’all!
Thanks for joining me as we settle down for another open discussion. One common question I’ve seen across social media is where can you get ethnically diverse Christian fiction published?
Readers are clamoring for fiction that fits their lives. Not everyone around them looks like they do, experiences the same life issues they do, etc. Yet, their fiction usually focuses on the same theme, a Caucasian who lives in a small-town.
A lot of ethnic authors are Indie (independently/self-publishing) publishing their works. Each has their own reason, but some Indie publish, because no one will take their ethnically diverse characters.
So, if you know of an agent or publishing company (small press, big press, etc.) who wants diversity, leave a comment and help an author out. 🙂
But, before you go, since this is an open discussion, tell me, what do you think publishers should do to change the market to be open to everyone regardless of race?
Diversity Between the Pages 
Amazon? haha. I haven’t had luck, hence the indie realm. Here’s what I used to query about 75 agents…
These are agents and some take Christian writers but many don’t:
http://www.writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/guide-to-literary-agents/30-literary-agents-seeking-diverse-books-now-young-adult-middle-grade-and-picture-books-part-3
http://mswishlist.com/profiles/agent/diverse
http://blog.leeandlow.com/2013/11/06/literary-agents-discuss-the-diversity-gap-in-publishing/
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My publisher is a small press and obviously they accept ethnically diverse Christian fiction. 🙂
Their website is http://www.celebratelitpublishing.com.
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No wonder the large publishing houses are struggling… they should be jumping all over this growing market. Sorry. I know that wasn’t helpful. It just seems so stupid.
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I’m not sure what the answer is, but I think having people from non-Caucasian backgrounds in all levels of publishing would be a good start: publishing, editing, agents, etc. Maybe I just haven’t come across them yet, but I think there are few, if any, out there.
Other than that, I think it depends where the issue is. There are actually a number of possible reasons why fewer non-Caucasian authors are published: Publishers not willing to consider the authors, publishers concerned that the readers (buyers) are not likely to purchase those books, or there are simply fewer manuscripts of the quality they’re seeking. I guess these, in turn, could be summed up as stemming from two root causes: people’s attitudes, or the lingering socio-economic and educational disadvantages these groups have had to overcome. And I’m making an assumption on this point, but even the idea that someone from a non-Caucasian background could go on to become a published author is still relatively new, I would think–generationally speaking. Perhaps it is simply a matter of time, and continually encouraging those non-Caucasian writers to keep at it, hone their craft. This generation are still ice-breakers in many ways, or at least pioneers exploring the new landscape that has been revealed now that the ice has been broken.
Golly. Hope that all makes sense!
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I don’t know of too many minority editors or agents. I know there are AA publishing companies but the list shrinks when you’re talking about CF. I know plenty of AA writers and the majority of them are Indie published. And their writing is superb, but if we (minorities) can’t get an agent, then we’ll never get into big publishing companies. Not sure what the answer would be besides someone starting their own deiverse publishing company.
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My publisher, Desert Breeze, welcomes diverse fiction. They aren’t strictly a Christian publisher but do have a Christian line. They are also a small publisher, but never blanched when I had a main character of color, another story has a main character who’s hispanic, and I’ve had interracial marriage in one of my books.
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Thanks for sharing!
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