Write of Passage by Vanessa Riley

For the past five years, I’ve embraced the practice of choosing a word to frame my year. The selection serves as a calling card, a guiding principle to reflect upon and shape my actions and mindset. My husband suggested tuna. Yes, you heard me—tuna. Lord bless him. He’s cute and a keeper, but tuna? Wanting to be gutted and stuffed in a metal tin is not what I want on 2025’s bingo card. My previous...

As a writer, I believe in using words to tell stories. As a reader, I get very excited when a book transports me to the time and place of the novel. I want to feel like I’m there, all while enjoying the safety and comfort of my home, in my favorite chair. A visual performer does the same thing. Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter is not just a singer—she’s a master of the arts of sound and motion, of t...

What does the word "diverse" mean to you when you see it in relation to books and publishing? For some, it is joy. It means being seen. It's a celebration. For others, it is a tag to "otherize" and foment hate. In publishing, it means a journey fraught with both peril and joy. Today, I’m going to give you a state of affairs. In true fashion, I will present the history of diverse publishing in the...