Join us in D.C. for #AWP17

For the first time, our imprint will present at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs’ annual conference, held this year from Feb. 8 to Feb. 11 at the Washington, D.C., Convention Center.

The Kaylie Jones Books panel takes place Thursday, Feb. 9, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. in Room 207A of the Convention Center. Panelists include:

• Kaylie Jones, publisher and author of THE ANGER MERIDIAN
• Laurie Loewenstein, author of UNMENTIONABLES
• J. Patrick Redmond, author of SOME GO HUNGRY
• Patricia Smith, author of THE YEAR OF NEEDY GIRLS
• Barbara J. Taylor, author of SING IN THE MORNING, CRY AT NIGHT and its sequel, ALL WAITING IS LONG

It’s a great honor to have our panel chosen, and to speak about the topics that we think are meaningful and underrepresented in the mainstream publishing world: women’s history, racism, prejudice against gay people and poor people and people of color, stories of injustice and hardship, and the beautiful things that sometimes arise from the worst circumstances.

We will talk about how this small imprint of the independent press Akashic Books has made an impact on the industry and spoken to readers and reviewers alike. In her Book Riot review of THE YEAR OF NEEDY GIRLS, including it as a January 2017 pick in such wonderful company as Roxane Gay’s DIFFICULT WOMEN, Susie Rodarme said, “I’m really digging the Kaylie Jones imprint from Akashic.”

She’s been joined in digging KJB by Publisher’s Weekly, the ALA, Lambda Literary, and lots of booksellers, librarians and discerning readers everywhere.

After the panel, from 4 to 5 p.m., we’ll be hanging out in the Bookfair (near the Wilkes University/Etruscan Press booth #402, close to the main show floor entrance), signing books and chatting.