edebell.com
Fantasy author. Editor @atthisarts.com. Writer. Vegan. Mama. Queer. Michigander. Mentally disabled. Blue Ajah. Hasty Ent. Quests in heal spec. Shkode Kwe. Aήττητη. she/her or e/em. Emily or E. 🧄.
Speak plainly and stand together.
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Getting Started
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The Sauútiverse is built around African concepts of sound, and this just seeps through this novella, much more than thematically, but in the lyrical and textured nature of the words. I am *so* glad Cheryl was able to read this for the audiobook. It's *special*.
www.atthisarts.com/product/song...
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This book, because of the timing in spring 2022, was completed from contract through writing, editing, sensitivity reading, sensitivity revisions, typesetting, and proofread in exactly one month. And I'm *real* proud of it.
www.atthisarts.com/product/rogu...
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There is no point in trying to prove targeted people's worthiness to the fascists. It doesn't "prove them wrong" when we're well behaved or model citizens. It is a losing game where the rules change constantly. The only way to win is to oppose the setting of those parameters at every level of power.
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I am seeing it not through the individual, but through the culture. And it's not just writers. It's genre as a whole.
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Oh, hey, secret dino? Serious question. Have you read my Strange Horizons essay? I actually tried to make sense, not sure how much I accomplished it.
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/no...
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Part of me wants to say, idk ask them!
But what I've seen? *Repeatedly?* The people with the money are telling the cwm to shut down the conversations, and they, or their cww foot soldiers are doing it, so they don't risk losing anything.
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*total mess high five*
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A lot of BIPOC and QTI writers want these conversations and have for a real long time. They are at risk doing it.
But my personal, repeated experience over *several* years of this, is there is always a cis white man to jump in the way and shut it down.
To uphold that privilege.
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Yes.
(Again with the caveat that I think we're actually agreeing on the end goal.)
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I think we might actually be agreeing.
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Requiring publishers to "be wealthy, relying on writers generating their own buzz, or for editors to be sacrificing for themselves and their family" is what upholds privilege and ableism.
I'm saying we have to make it easier. And NOT require those things above.
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Asking questions of people with my brain is the kindest and best thing - thank you!
NO thank you, I do not mean that. (Thank you!)
I think I'm saying the opposite? That:
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lol "not perfect" is a pretty sweet euphemism for "a total mess"
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And absolutely no one thinks I'm perfect.
But my passion is also what made a lot of these things happen.
So I listen, learn, and try my best.
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Yep. 100%.
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No shady finances are happening at all. I've just been trying to be open for years about the culture change needed.
The right wing bans and attacks last year hit us really hard. Hoping this Kickstarter kicks us back out of it.
And yeah, our author community is the only reason this press exists.
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I guess that's what I meant by "as a culture" - I'm talking about the systemic.
People (as of course you know) can support systemic things without believing them individually, and that's what I'm (awkwardly, as always) trying to say.
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I *do* see that exact thing.
(But of course there is nuance, it's not a broad accusation or of individuals.)
Appreciate the conversation very much. : )
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I'm concerned the solution (not from you, all around) gravitates to if it's hard you shouldn't be doing it.
Not how can we make it not so hard.
Because the first *is* excluding people and will continue to more and more as things are going.
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You will never, ever, hear me argue that writers shouldn't be paid, and I've dedicated years to that specific passion.
My argument is for changing the culture around publishing so it doesn't have to be so goddamned hard. And exclusive.
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The core issue is people in power wanting to hold their power.
Which is privilege.
As I see it.
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Also - not everyone can self-publish.
I couldn't. I have my spouse. It's why we made a press.
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Caution is good but I am personally speaking from a lot of experience.
And these are the conversations people need to be having, imo.
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The grants also add restrictions on who the publishers can publish, globally.
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I see privilege and ableism everywhere.
And yes, I was on a panel with three Canadian publishers, all of whom said they'd not be able to publish *at all* without grants.
But we don't have them here. And crowdfunding for substantial promotion, and not just the book, is prohibitive.
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The idea that many small publishers aren't sacrificing tremendously *already* and that the solution is for these books not to be published is not one I can agree with.
I'm not arguing for irresponsibility, I'm arguing, as I have for years, for a necessary culture change in how art is supported.
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This is awkward for me to say so I've danced around it, but I feel in addition to being enjoyable, this novel teaches you. Getting into these characters' thoughts surely provides new perspective on neurodivergence, touch, pet play, a-spec, kink, to every reader.
www.atthisarts.com/product/be-t...
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I worked so hard on this book so the press would take off that when something went wrong, I had full, near-death mental breakdown. "Jeez Emily that's not a good story." But, for me, it is. There are some *treasures* in this book, so much love, and I am still HERE.
www.atthisarts.com/product/comm...
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Our first traditionally published novel (mine are self-published) was written by Chris' beloved high school friend. I really think doing that set the tone for the press - of people working together with mutual hope and joy to share art.
www.atthisarts.com/product/when...
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I love this book. It's so fun, so quirky, and I VERY MUCH recommend this and anything Gigi writes.
But for me? I'm super proud that I designed the interior graphics, including the same archway in both a traditional and then multidimensional representation.
www.atthisarts.com/product/one-...
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Committing to this book in good faith in the interest of inclusion plans has caused ... a lot. Not getting into it here.
But for all of it? Do I regret a Single Thing when I can spend the rest of my life saying I *met* and *published* Linda D. Addison? NO WAY.
www.atthisarts.com/product/inte...
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Three of the authors had already sold their intended stories when we took on publication of this book. I pushed to make room to buy new stories from them, even if they needed to be shorter. All three of those authors (none from the US) are now major award winners.
www.atthisarts.com/product/rosa...
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The author wrote this book when she was 11, and edited it when she was 12, with a goal of publication before leaving elementary school, as she was encouraged to focus on her studies. She is an adult now, and I look forward to maybe seeing her emerge at some point.
www.atthisarts.com/product/a-sp...
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Tell me what it is that I haven't been doing that should do. I challenge you!
Oh, and that isn't:
- You're too awkward; stay silent. (Trying that almost killed me.)
- Don't challenge the power structure. (No.)
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Look. I hear from publishers and writers ALL THE TIME about how messed up the culture is and what's needed, but they don't want to get out there and say it because they've seen what happens.
But someone has to or it won't change?
Hey! I'm a mentally disabled mess! Here's the baton?
*waggles it*
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So tell me where it comes from. In general.
If you're not relying on those things above to get off the ground.
Anyway, I'll stop before I get into trouble but our press started in *2013* and if people are like, well, you have to wait and get your break, well...
*covers mouth and gestures*
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Because the options there are:
- Independent wealth.
- Rely on louder author promo and popularity.
- Take it from the editor's family.
No, I am nooot talking about our press' finances, don't worry.
(But. Do you know I'm on disability with three kids living here?)
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Presumably, sales from other books?
What if those sales aren't generating enough to float other books, because they're not being talked about enough either?
Where's it supposed to come from?
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Take Ihor's book. A beautiful, culturally important novel by a murdered poet.
Where is that promo budget supposed to come from?
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Nor am I only blaming the publishers for that, because the *intense* level of follow culture is playing right into it.
We need a culture change all around in genre and re: art, but everywhere I try to talk about it I get run out.
Back to shifting power upsets power. Sigh.
It's hard!
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Yes, and people have to stop pretending (or believing?) that publishers are not weighting their acquisition decisions heavily on the author's existing audience and ability to promote and thus create their own audience, which then makes that publisher appear safer but furthers these same exclusions.