THREAD: As an editor, I'm always aware of my position as a gatekeeper in children's publishing. Creators trust me with their passion, hard work, dreams, & it's a responsibility & privilege to influence the conversation, to champion creators, to try to enact change.

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Amid the many other people and factors and opinions that go into whether or not a book will be published, supported, or well-reviewed, I am in a unique position to advocate for books in a way that few others do.

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I ask myself every day how I can best make for a more diverse & inclusive industry. How do I ensure that BIPOC creators are given the care, attention, & support that they deserve? Recruit & RETAIN BIPOC peers? Ensure that the books I champion are helping, not harming?

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One thing I do is have many, many conversations about the best way to responsibly represent & include BIPOC in the industry--and importantly, how to make space for & affirm their identities & perspectives.

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I edit books by BIPOC creators, educate & recruit potential publishing professionals to give them a fighting chance of landing a job in this cutthroat industry, listen & learn from others, & try always speak out on & address systemic inequities when they go unnoticed.

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I'm not saying this for praise or affirmation. It's the least I can do to use the power I have to be a comrade to those who have been sidelined & tokenized & unseen for SO LONG.

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But I wanted to write this thread to pull back the curtain a bit on what it's like to be on the inside, as one person who tries her best to make for a more fair & equal workplace. There is so much more that I could be doing. There is so much more that I want for us.

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What I am trying to say is that I am always learning, always trying to grow, & if there is something different or more that I can do, I want my fellow humans in kidlit to feel comfortable sharing it. I realize that doing the work means messing up.

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It means being called out for my mistakes & taking the punches, making personal sacrifices to make space at the table for other people. I am beyond fortunate to be in a place where I can make a difference with stalwart comrades (y'all know who you are )

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The work isn't over. It's never going to be. And I hope that through my words & actions, people feel comfortable engaging with me on these topics with the knowledge that I will always listen, and make change in an industry that is flawed, but which I love so much.

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