What’s up with this New York talk?

Have you been wondering where I’ve been on this blog? Have you noticed me talking on Facebook or Twitter about a move and wondered what was up with that? Now, your questions can be answered! Some pretty awesome things have been happening that required me to relocate to New York City. For more on what’s going on, check out the press release: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3699034.htm.

Now that it’s out there, we’ll have more to talk about in the next little while. I’m sure you’ll have questions, and you’re welcome to ask them here. (Right now, though, I’m starving and must go find myself some lunch.)

Here’s what it says:

LEE & LOW BOOKS, the respected independent children’s book publisher specializing in diversity, has acquired Tu Publishing, an independent press focusing on multicultural fantasy and science fiction for middle grade and young adult readers.

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 9, 2010 — LEE & LOW BOOKS, the respected independent children’s book publisher specializing in diversity, has acquired Tu Publishing, an independent press focusing on multicultural fantasy and science fiction for middle grade and young adult readers.

“This is a natural fit for us,” says LEE & LOW publisher Jason Low. “Our customers have been asking us for years to publish stories for older readers. Tu represents an excellent way for us to bring diversity to a whole new audience.”

Recent controversies over whitewashing have brought widespread attention to the dearth of people of color in fantasy and science fiction stories, although avid fans of these genres have long acknowledged the problem.

Tu Publishing founder Stacy Whitman began the press in 2009 to address the need for more books featuring diverse characters and inspired by non-Western cultures, a need that she had seen as both a reader and an editor of fantasy and science fiction.

Supporters met Whitman’s project with great enthusiasm and donated funds via the online organization Kickstarter to help launch the company. Through many small donations, Tu Publishing surpassed its $10,000 goal, catching the attention of LEE & LOW.

“The fact that Tu was able to raise so much money indicates that there is a real need for this,” says Low. Since Tu will now become an imprint of LEE & LOW, all money will be refunded to donors.

“The outpouring of support on the Kickstarter project and from children’s book professionals validates my mission, and the opportunity to join forces with LEE & LOW, with its vast experience publishing diverse children’s books, will allow me to accomplish my goals even beyond what I could have expected,” Whitman explains.

Whitman will join LEE & LOW as editorial director of the new imprint, which will undergo a slight name change to Tu Books. Several manuscripts are already under consideration for possible acquisition, with hopes of releasing the first books under the new imprint in 2011.

6 thoughts on “What’s up with this New York talk?

  1. Hi Stacy, Congratulations on your new home! I hope you have found a place to live and are getting settled in NYC. That’s nice you are getting there in the spring because my son has told me about all the snow they’ve had this winter.

    I am the woman in Rick’s class that gave you my son, Matt Straquadine’s, contact info. He’s in NYC also working with Frontline. If you need anything feel free to get ahold of him.

    All the best.
    Judy

    1. Thank you, everyone! And Judy, your son emailed me but I was in the midst of the move and hadn’t had a chance to email him back. Thank you! I’ll have to go find that email.

  2. I am so glad to see this happen. I wish there was something similar in Germany, where I am living. Over here there are way too little projects that try to make readers/children/humans understand the demands and needs of a different culture. At the same time, locally restricted sub-cultures are lost by the minute and hardly anyone is aware of it. What a pity.

    I will keep my fingers crossed for you. May your venture be very successful. Any maybe – one day soon – I might be able to send a manuscript you way.

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