In "an effort to expand exposure to its bookstore members and their customers to books by people of color," the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance will offer a 35% discount to publishers who wish to promote their minority authors and illustrators for 2017. The discount, which starts February 1, applies to any book that has been written or illustrated by a person of color and to all SIBA promotions with the exception of its annual holiday catalogue.
"We had a strong call from our members to increase diversity in SIBA programming," said SIBA's executive director Wanda Jewell, "and to work with stores to increase the demand for diverse books," adding that SIBA has already made an internal commitment to promote minority authors and books in its consumer-targeted programs, such as the Lady Banks Commonplace Book newsletter.
"But it is an all-hands-on-deck process. Our booksellers are deeply committed to diversity, and we want publishers to see our membership as an enthusiastic and profitable audience for their minority writers." For more information, contact Jewell at wanda@sibaweb.com.