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Because I’m still angry about that stupid email that called me the wrong email, here’s a quick thread about what *not* to do when inviting Black authors to your event:
1. Check to make sure you’re inviting authors who are actually a good fit for your event. Unless the invite says why I’m being invited (our eighth grade class loved Dread Nation) I usually say no. Why? Because I have books to write!
2. Do not make it sound like you are doing the author of color a favor by inviting them. For example:
“If you join us you will get to join the ranks of a number of prominent YA authors.”
That makes us sound like the help, not an author with something to offer.
“If you join us you will get to join the ranks of a number of prominent YA authors.”
That makes us sound like the help, not an author with something to offer.
3. DO NOT, DO NOT, tell a person of color (or a queer person) that you are inviting them because your program is lacking in diversity. If diversity is an afterthought in your planning I KNOW your event is going to be a mess and I’m not going to even waste my time.
But! I am also a pretty accomplished author! I’ve won awards! I’m a New York Times Bestseller! Being Black is not my only qualification. And a quick google would tell you that.
Inviting me just because I’m a Black author and *saying so* is another reason for me to say no.
Inviting me just because I’m a Black author and *saying so* is another reason for me to say no.
And I mean:
4. Make sure you know the Black author you’re inviting. Again. Google. There really no excuse for screwing this up.
4. Make sure you know the Black author you’re inviting. Again. Google. There really no excuse for screwing this up.
And 5. Be upfront about payment. There are a lot of conferences happening online and a lot of folks have taken that to mean “I can invite an author and it’ll be free because it’s just a Zoom call!” but there’s still time involved and people should be paid for their work.
(And 6 is to consider reaching out to authors who have just released books especially debuts because we should give new authors a chance but everything upthread still applies).
