Frequently Asked Questions

WHO IS LATINX IN PUBLISHING (LxP)?

Latinx in Publishing is a non-profit organization or 501©3 comprised of book professionals (book workers, authors, illustrators, librarians, etc.) committed to supporting and increasing the number of Latinx people that work in publishing, and promoting literature by, for, and about Latinx people.

WHY IS LxP NEEDED?

In the 2015 Diversity Baseline Study* conducted by Lee & Low, of those surveyed in the publishing industry overall, 79% identified as White/Caucasian and only 6% identified as Hispanic/Latino/ Mexican. On the executive level, the numbers are even worse, with 86% identifying as White/Caucasian and only 2% identifying as Hispanic/Latino/Mexican. With such a dearth of Latinx and People of Color (POC) working in publishing, it’s not surprising that the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)** has found that on the children’s book side, of all o the books published in 2015, only 2.4% depicted Latinx characters, whereas 73.3% featured white characters. (There has been no comparable study on the adult side, but watch this space!)

*Please see blog.leeandlow.com for the entirety of the study.

**Please see https://writix.co.uk/blog/publishing-statistics-on-childrens-ya-books for more on the CCBC statistics.

WHY DO YOU USE THE TERM LATINX?

Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible. The word “Latinx” (pronounced “La-teen-ex”) helps us fully represent the members of our community, including those who don’t identify with the gender binary. As the Huffington Post described it, “Latinx is the gender-neutral alternative to Latino, Latina and even Latin@.”

CAN YOU HELP ME GET PUBLISHED? HOW CAN I SUBMIT MY MANUSCRIPT TO YOU?

Unfortunately, no.  We are not a publisher, but a professional organization of people who work in and around the publishing industry. We can certainly point you towards some terrific agents (on our website) to whom you can submit.  We also recommend The Literary Marketplace as a good resource. You can find it at the library or online at www.literarymarketplace.com.

I WANT TO WORK IN PUBLISHING.  CAN YOU HELP?

Email us and we can certainly try to set up informational interviews as schedules permit.  Visit our website and sign up for our newsletter at www.latinxinpublishing.com. Follow us on social media. 

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOUR MENTORSHIP PROGRAM?

The Latinx in Publishing Writers Mentorship Program is a volunteer-based initiative that offers the opportunity for unpublished and unagented writers/illustrators who identify as Latinx (mentees) to strengthen their craft, gain first-hand industry knowledge, and expand their professional connections through work with experienced published authors (mentors).  Mentors and mentees will coordinate their own schedules, and are required to work together for at least one hour per month over the course of the 10-month program. For more information, visit https://latinxinpublishing.com/mentorship.

HOW CAN I CONTACT YOU?

Website:  www.latinxinpublishing.com

Email:  latinosinpub@gmail.com

Instagram:  @latinxpublishing

Twitter:       @latinxinpub

Facebook:    www.facebook.com/latinxpublishing/