Editor-Writer Mentorship Post: Mentee Publishing Deal Announcements!

One of our favorite things in the world is our Editor-Writer Mentorship! We love helping publishing hopefuls find mentorship with professional editors, and we are so proud of the work they (both the editors and the writers) bring into the world.

Being an author is no easy feat, and the EW mentorship helps provide invaluable feedback, critiques, lessons, and encouragement to authors from the margins.

Here's an update on some of our past mentees' publishing deal announcements:

July 15, 2021 - CESARIA WEARS NO SHOES, by Denise Adusei and Priscila Soares

Children's: Picture book Cofounder of #BlackCreatorsinKidlit and #LatinxPitch Denise Adusei's CESARIA WEARS NO SHOES, in which a young deaf girl experiences the wonders of African diaspora-inspired Carnival celebrations by feeling the music through her bare feet, illustrated by Priscila Soares, to Emily Feinberg at Roaring Brook Press, in a two-book deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Regina Brooks at Serendipity Literary Agency for the author (world).

July 8, 2021 - PLATANOS ARE LOVE, by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Mariyah Rahman Children's: Picture book Alyssa Reynoso-Morris's PLATANOS ARE LOVE, about a young girl who learns the cultural significance of plantains while cooking alongside her abuela, illustrated by Mariyah Rahman, to Alex Borbolla at Atheneum, in a nice deal, for publication in spring 2023, by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Context Literary Agency for the author, and by Christy Tugeau Ewers at The CAT Agency for the illustrator (world).

June 28, 2021 - THE BRONX IS MY HOME, by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Kim Holt Children's: Picture book Alyssa Reynoso-Morris's THE BRONX IS MY HOME, a love letter to The Bronx, featuring a family's weekend adventure in their native borough, with destinations including Orchard Beach, Grand Concourse, Yankee Stadium; the High Bridge, and Arthur Avenue, illustrated by Kim Holt, to Jessica Anderson at Christy Ottaviano Books, in an exclusive submission, for publication in fall 2023, by Kaitlyn Sanchez at Context Literary Agency for the author, and by Claire Easton at Painted Words for the illustrator (world).

June 5, 2020 - BARAKAH BEATS, by Maleeha Siddiqui

Children's: Middle Grade Fiction Maleeha Siddiqui's BARAKAH BEATS, in which a Muslim girl joins a boy band in an effort to find her place at a new school, but struggles to reconcile her new friends' interests and her own faith, to Emily Seife at Scholastic, in a good deal, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication in 2021, by Lauren Spieller at TriadaUS Literary Agency (world English).

February 25, 2020 - THE ROAD TO SALT SEA, by Samuel Kolawole

Fiction: Debut Graywolf Africa Prize finalist, Marguerite and Lamar Smith Fellow, and Nigerian citizen Samuel Kolawole's THE ROAD TO SALT SEA, following a Nigerian man involved in a crime who makes a treacherous journey of escape across the trans-Saharan migration route from Nigeria to Europe and must reckon with the dangers of being a migrant in contemporary Africa, to Tracy Sherrod at Amistad, in a very nice deal, by Julie Stevenson at Massie & McQuilkin (world). Rights: Tracy Sherrod

HUGE congratulations to these brilliant authors, and may their careers be long, happy, and bring joy into the world of books!