i do love seeing editors at traditionally closed publishers opening their submissions to un-agented Black authors! if i can, please keep two things in mind:

1. If you are soliciting, this is a big deal bc it's unusual. Please be mindful of your rejections & giving feedback.

2. If you are interested in making an offer, please insist/strongly encourage these authors to find an agent, whether you refer or not. a good boilerplate can really help them out and we should be looking out for their best interests. and be patient while they search.

ALSO to these Black authors: if you get an offer from an editor, do NOT accept it until you have consulted with an agent! if you agree to terms, it can be very hard for an agent to negotiate them after-the-fact. Just say thanks and let them know you need time to find an agent.