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EP. 130 Luana Horry, editor at HARPER COLLINS, chats PETE THE CAT & Books and music | It's Personal
57 Plays5 months ago
Luana Horry, a passionate SENIOR EDITOR at HARPERCOLLINS Children's Books, who is revolutionizing the world of children's literature. Born and raised in Jamaica, Queens, a hub of extraordinary talents, Luana has made it her mission to diversify the publishing industry and amplify underrepresented voices.
As a trailblazer in her field, Luana has worked on beloved titles such as "Not Quite Snow White" and "My Hair," championing stories that reflect the rich diversity of our world. Her unwavering dedication to inclusive content has transformed the landscape of children's books, ensuring that every child can see themselves reflected in the pages they read.
Luana's vision extends beyond just representation - she aspires to empower Black authors to explore a wide range of genres, moving beyond the confines of trauma-focused narratives. By cultivating diverse and innovative storytelling, she aims to inspire young readers and foster a deeper understanding of the human experience. With collaborations that span from Pete the Cat to renowned figures like Dwayne Wade and LeBron James, Luana's impact on the publishing world is undeniable.
Listen to audio versions here:
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Soundcloud: https://shorturl.at/xamld
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Transcript
Introduction to Luana and Her Role
00:00:00
Speaker
All right. ah Welcome back, everyone. I am so excited to have a very special person with me today. um There's been a huge process in regards to like finding an editor, working with an editor. to Shout out to Donna, because I had Donna originally before now. I have the beautiful, the wonderful Luana. And we're going to chop it up today. Luana, how are you? I'm good. I'm good. It's early. The sun is going to shine later on today in New York. I'm good. You're a morning person, right? Yup, morning person. So three hours in, I'm like... You're already three hours in? So what time is it there? It is 6.11am. And you're three hours in? But, you know, if I went to sleep around 9.30 last night, so... Okay, so what's your... but Sorry, go ahead, sorry, go ahead.
00:00:49
Speaker
I'm well rested. What's my, I think you're gonna ask like, what's my routine? um um So I used to, this is like more info than you need to know, but I used to be known in the family as like 9 p.m. At nine, LaWanna is knocked out. It doesn't matter where she is, what's happening, family's over, she's sleep, right? Wow. but Sleep until, you know, like eight in the morning. So I was like a good sleeper, but then, life happened, adulting happened, work happened. And so now I sleep. I mean, I got about around 11 and it's a lot of broken sleep, but then I'm up at like 4 a.m. So it's like, it's like not the best sleep schedule, but I'm fine. I operate on it. I think I'm fine.
00:01:39
Speaker
think I'm okay. You're so funny because it's like as you're talking like we have similar schedules. I go to bed. and I was never an early bed person. But especially as a teacher, I, I'm pretty much exhausted when I get home. So I'll eat, do a little work, writing, reading, whatever I go to bed. nine nine thirty and I am up around four thirty as well. Partially because I'm also wanting to get in like some reading or some writing or just like a call home every morning before I go to school. My school day starts at like around eight but that's so interesting to me.
Luana's Roots and Community Influence
00:02:13
Speaker
Has like and my follow-up question that is like what and I always ask this but like what was like little Luanna's life like growing up? Was she still a morning person?
00:02:25
Speaker
Yes, actually, I was a morning person. um And I love to tell people I grew up in South Jamaica, Queens, the home of like the best rappers, the best thinkers. Even because Kendi was born there. I'm raised there. 50 Cent was raised there. I want to say Evie's a boy, but don't quote me. I feel like she said it. And I'm like, yo, we all from the same place. Um, like the greatest people come from there. Um, but if you know anything about South Jamaica, it is, it is, um, you know, it's the hood, right? And, and it's, but I think a wonderful place that has really shaped me into who I am because I'm like in this one space, but I'm very much a dork and people respect me for it. Like, so I really lead it to that. Like I used to color at lunchtime.
00:03:19
Speaker
Like I hung out with the teachers versus like the students. And so back to me being an early bird. Yes, I was always an early bird because I was always at school first. I was always at school first. Were you a walker or did you take the bus? Walked. So for what? All of the three elementary schools I went to were in the neighborhood. They were zone schools. And so that is also a result of like not having the funds to like do anything different. So I've went to all public schools. um They were all zoned. Wow. And, and yeah, and three for elementary school. And we walked my sisters walked me have two older sisters, best sisters in the world. They walked me every day
00:04:05
Speaker
even if I embarrassed with my like huge backpack full of coloring books. I kid you not. it was That is awesome. That is awesome. were you riser Where you also I have so many questions for you. So like my first question is, were you also a writer and like a creative person coloring person back then? Or is that something that came over time? gary I don't write. Yes, you do. Yes, you do. not No, no, I, I, I think, I always said to myself, you told me about that paper. We'll talk about that later when you talk about that paper. So when I was young, I really am into things that are cute and fun. So that's what coloring was for me. It was like an outlet of like, I could
00:04:56
Speaker
SpongeBob, SpongeBob all day, Rugrats. And so just like kind of bringing ah my interest with me is sort of what coloring was. But on the other end, writing, I was really good at that. But na is writing, like reports you know, it's like, you know, like, I was good at academic writing. And i yeah, so Maybe it is creative. I think it gets creative once you get into college. But back then, it was just like they told me what to write. You wrote it. And I was good at that. I was always good at that. Yeah, that's a skill. I think that is a skill. I think academic writing is definitely a skill. And there are like, I mean, I've read a lot of it just because of like university. It does. it does I don't think it sounds all the same. I do find some academic writing
00:05:46
Speaker
um interesting. um And some of it's like really, really boring as well. um which Which is true, which is very, very
Family Dynamics and Personal Loss
00:05:53
Speaker
true. I want to know more about like your life in Jamaica Queens, like who are people within your family that really influence like, not necessarily like who you are today, but maybe like, and just like family influence, etc. Yeah, family. Um, I feel like I feel like And i I'm glad that we get to have this this this conversation, because it breaks up a lot. I feel like my my siblings were a big part of it, and and my cousins in were a big part of like my growing up. Because I lost my father and ah at an early age. I was maybe nine, 10. It was sudden. He went to the hospital, and like it was just sudden. right And he was like huge. my he My mom worked a lot.
00:06:45
Speaker
Um, she worked in the airport and customs border protection. She still does it to this day. Wow. so Yeah. She had like a big job and he was a mechanic. He was a car mechanic. And so he obviously was the primary parent in that sense. Like, you know, he was the one dinner. go to bed, do your homework, if it's wrong, rip it up, do it over. like That was his job. um Making you work hard. Yeah, oh yeah, oh my God. He was, I mean, luckily I was always good, but my, like, and watching my siblings go through the whole, like, you have to do this over business, it's crazy. So when he was gone, like, we had to really lean on each other.
00:07:30
Speaker
And so this day they're my best friends first. I mean, my real best friends get annoyed when I say that, but they really are my best friends um first and foremost. And we did like we did everything together. like We rode bikes together. We go to the Bodega together. and we'll go to um If we went to a cousin's house, we would travel on the train together. like Everything was really close-knit. between us, and so I would say them first and foremost. And then and then my cousin, I think, like I get my sense of humor from him. He was like the jokester. um And so, I don't know, I think it was really just the kids that kind of stuck together. And yeah, in terms of family, those- Wow, wow. Well, shout out to dad. And I mean, I hear you and I see you and thank you for being so vulnerable. um
00:08:23
Speaker
It's something about, I mean, I'm not speaking for all black family families, but there is something about, there's so many moments that I can like think in my head about like people that are close to me. And I i always say this, when I speak to um people who are in different countries than me but look like me. Even in my family, there's so many situations where families show up in so many different ways. That's why my cousins are like sisters. That's why my aunts and uncles are like people I would see absolutely every single day. um But it's so nice to so to hear that your siblings are the people that showed up for you.
00:09:03
Speaker
um and in so many ways, the good and the bad because I know there were probably moments there. Exactly. Right? Exactly. they're probably Little brother, I was like, I have to love you at a distance. Every so often, I like block his number. i unlock And Because I mean, it is he's a lot but he is like And he is very misunderstood. But he's like my favorite guy in the world. But yes siblings, that's siblings, right? That is siblings. I have an older sister. And we are we are best friends now. Now. When we were younger, I mean, we used to kill each other. I like I remember vividly, like we would have water fights in the house, in the house.
00:09:52
Speaker
I know, you can only imagine how that, well how that ended. You can only imagine, right? We would get on each other's nerves. Like I would like sing songs and she would copy the songs that I'm singing just on purpose, just on purpose. Like she would like, but now we genuinely, we genuinely love each other. What is love? Cause I still do that. like i
00:10:17
Speaker
Why not? That's what siblings do. That's what siblings do. So laurada you you are again, I've mentioned this to you before, but you are such a it's so nice to see you in the position that you're in. um We are very new in regards to the relationship that we're going to have with like writing and being my editor. um But how does one get into being an editor, even though someone said they're not a writer?
Educational Journey and Career Decision
00:10:42
Speaker
Just putting that out there. Well, and so let's kill that. You do not have to be a writer to be an editor. I firmly believe this. I do. I firmly believe this. um but But it does help if you're a writer. you know That's how you kind of get into books. So I mean, I guess we could start with my like college journey, right? um So I actually went to high school
00:11:09
Speaker
for like a specialized science program. It was like the Carl Sagan program in Forest Hills. It's a very affluent school in Queens. Well, affluent neighborhood in Queens, but it was like a public high school. And I think now it's sort of like completely specialized. So I got in through this program And I was good at it. And but then they started dissecting the frogs and we started getting yeah and I just was like, so this is not for me, because I'm not I'm not doing it. And so it just didn't really mesh well, like with my personality. So I went into English o um and I went into English, but I also did like now I'm like,
00:11:56
Speaker
physics and like some science stuff on the side, but I changed my track to English. Um, uh, and then I went to college, no idea what to do, but my first degree that I would, I knew I was going to go into English because I was like, well, I like to read books. Like I'm going to do that. And then I got to say his name, but I met this really crazy person yeah and he was like, you should take a black studies course. Um, and I was like, for what, you know, I didn't, I questioned it a little bit, but I was like, why not? And so, um, I'm doing English. I went into this course, this black studies course and. He was like, we're going to be a community. like That was it. We're going to be community first. No leeches in in my class. He used to like blast um ah music, like jazz, and like rap. Wow. Yeah. And other teachers hated him because it was so early in the morning. He used to blast black. What do you say to rap? what would he write like What kind of songs would he play? and um
00:12:58
Speaker
ah So Talib, you know, like conscious rap. He would play a lot of conscious rap. For okay um and those who are listening, can you explain what conscious rap is? Because some people they may not understand that phrase. Conscious rap is rap that is socially aware um and ah deals with issues that are relevant to the Black community. I think in a very productive way. um And, you know, some people would say common is that. I try to think of folks that are like popular.
00:13:37
Speaker
Um, unlike the, unlike the disc, unlike the disc that is like the, unlike the battle that's happening right now. I was going to say like before, like last week, Kendrick kind of fell into that category. But Black Thought, um, and I know I'm missing a lot of others because just at 6am, forgive me, but Conscious Rap is that body of rap. um that is part social commentary, love letter to black people. It is that. And so he's blasting this and some of it is like, you know,
00:14:12
Speaker
I have the people. I have the And he was like, he just like kind of like shocked me in a way that was really nice. um and so And so I'll tell the story, but I'm in this class and I'm learning about revolutionary figures that I never knew about, like political prisoners. um really the the, and also breaking down what we think we know, right? About MLK and like how he's not actually very passive, not nonviolent. He walked around, yeah, he had guns, just people had guns, right? Cause they had to stay safe. And really breaking down those walls of like what black revolutionary thought looks like in the academy, which I thought was really great. So I'm like, all right, let's do this. And then we get our first, and what made me stay, and I'll get into how I'm an editor,
00:15:05
Speaker
I'm rambling, but it all- Oh, you're good, you're good. So I get to, you know, I'm in this class and it's like, oh, I really like it. It gives us our first assignment. And I was like, I got you. It's like three or so pages about who you are and where you come from. um You know, easy. And so I give him this, right? I give him this long-winded story. I deliver this man about seven pages. And I'm like, this is lit. He's gonna love it, right? I'm feeling myself. I get the paperback. There is no grade on it. I mean, I was just appalled. He was like, I didn't read it because you didn't follow me in stretch. I was like, sir. I labored over it. Everyone was at the flat house and they was partying. I wrote this. like I was so bruised. How long was it? How long was it?
00:15:59
Speaker
It was seven pages. and how what What was on the syllabus? What did what did they ask you for? Three. yeah
00:16:10
Speaker
Wow. More than double. More than double. He was like, I'm not reading this. So wow I'm upset and i wow i was upset. And I ripped it up and I was like, this is I can't take it. And so in addition to learning a lot about My history and and my people, I think those courses also taught me a lot about myself. um And how he was like, what he said, we're not just preaching a cosmology that is like, we are community centered, we have to be that. And so you coming in here overachieving and doing a lot, like you're not on the pace of the others. And he also had this thing about not contributing enough. He called them leeches and he would like kick you out if you didn't believe. Wow. now called eighty He called them leeches too.
00:17:02
Speaker
Wow. I like him. He was he was great. And and he introduced me to some really incredible people. And he got me into organizations like BSU Black Student Union. I was on this newspaper c called for Hari Libertad, which is really nice. I was like, ah What else did I do? I did some other stuff. There's this thing called Black Week. It was great. So this is all like right building this sort of like confidence to just like go out and get it um and to also stand firm in my identity as an African-American woman. right and so And then I'm reading books, right you know Shakespeare and and all those other folks, Jane Austen.
00:17:48
Speaker
um So you put that together, what do you have this like double major in Literature and Black Studies and My grandmother, bless her soul, ah she's like, what are you gonna do with that? Like, she was like, what? Did you just waste? Like seriously? She was like, did you just waste four years of your life? What? She was very, I mean, she's, they, you know, she's not gonna mince words. She's at this stage in her life where she's not gonna lie to us. And she said it at graduation. She was like. Oh, wow. Wow.
00:18:23
Speaker
But she was happy. That's her wiggly happy. But she's just checking in. just
00:18:30
Speaker
She's a huge pathologist. Well, she was. And so, you know, she's a doctor. And she's so important. And I was like, OK. Anyways, ah and so that's how it happened. Wow. I i read at that my last year, the new Jim Crow. It was like my last year in college, I read it. um in this class called The Black Woman. And I don't know why, I guess because Michelle michelle Alexander wrote it, she's a black woman, but there's this course called The Black Woman, it was incredible, great course, like it should always exist. And I looked at the back of the book, and I noticed that there was a publisher, and I literally just went to their website and applied for their internship.
Internship and Publishing Career Launch
00:19:13
Speaker
That's how it happened. Yeah, so I got hired,
00:19:19
Speaker
That's crazy. So keep going. you got where you where Where was the internship? but So it was at the New Press downtown. um And they are a social justice imprint. And, well, ah publisher, publisher. And they are, I want to say nonprofit. They have a lot of like backers and stuff. So very small. ah But they do good books like the New Jim Pro took America by Storm was insane, right, when it came out. And they had me interning there and and the slush pile when I took the amount of pages that I had to read. I was like, OK, I kind of like this, like scouting out potential new work and the great writers. But I was like, once I got to page 50, eyes burnt, because I'm also in grad school at the time, Gary. So I'm like,
00:20:12
Speaker
What? That's a lot. 50 pages in, I'm tired. I was like, this could not happen. So the person who, and they're like 400 page manuscript. I was like, oh my God. So yeah. Wow. So the person hired me and I was like, yeah, so I like this publishing thing. Just not sure that this level of entertaining is good for me. And he allowed me on the job. He was like, well, apply to like other detergents. Wow. Right. um And so I applied to Simon & Schuster Spotlight.
00:20:53
Speaker
spotlight And they do a lot of licensing. They do chapter books. um They publish SpongeBob books. so crack ah but And I was like, yes. And so it's like all that like coloring book and like cartoon activity, it's like coming full circle for me, right? So I was like, yes. And I get there and everyone's great. Everyone's great. I think licensing, though, is a very different beast. um because you're dealing with content that already exists. And then you have to like ah create something new out of that content that already exists. um And they do a lot of IP as well, but that too is like you get a roadmap of what needs to be done and then you execute. So it's a different type of creativity that I was like, okay, um I like children's publishing, but maybe something a little different. And so this is all happening back to back.
00:21:49
Speaker
like This is, there's no time, there's no space, like. And you're still in grad school? Still in grad school. um Yeah, and then I get the job at Harper Collins. And I was hired to be an admin assistant to the publisher. But I got there. And I mean, long story short, somehow I was like assisting two editors as well in addition to this publisher. So I was like admin, like half editorial assistant when I got there.
00:22:23
Speaker
um And yeah, know since that's how it happened. It was like, I went to college, read a book, and it literally changed my life. good you you read You read a book, and then you looked at the back of the book to find out how it got published. Like, that is, what is such a journey? Such a journey. And we had talked about this, and I think it's so interesting because, and I think it's really good to hear your story because You know, we often hear one or two stories and I can only speak for myself and how my journey has been with like writing.
00:22:58
Speaker
And then it wasn't a traditional journey, but people have always told me like, hey, like, you know, it takes a really long time. Your manuscript may go through so many editors before one person picks it up or even an agent looks at it. And it's not always the case. but I think most most people that I've talked to, yes, but it's not always the case. And with your journey, I think that's so good to hear because you also kept at it. You had so many opportunities to be like, Yeah, this doesn't feel good. I don't think I want to do this. But you kept looking for like the right fit as well. And I do think in, at least again, in my case, there's some sort of, I don't want to call it luck, like the idea of like opportunity presenting itself um in situations that may fall in your favor. and I think those things are good as well. um But it doesn't take away the fact that you've worked extremely hard.
00:23:51
Speaker
Like, i really hard but but extremely hard. Extremely hard. You know, luck, luck is a funny word. And I think opportunities befall people's everyday opportunity. And it literally is what you do with it, right? It is what you do with it. And so I think luck is like 20% of it and then 50 is like execution. You keep pushing and then whatever other percent, I think 30% is like failing, right? Whatever, as you know, it's been a while since I've been in math class. It's failing and starting over and doing it again and regrouping. So like it's luck, but it's also talent and hard work and just knowing when when to give up and when not to give up. so
00:24:43
Speaker
I think success is like just a, it's a melting pot of things. Cause cause I mean, uh, Anybody could have read the dude Jim Crow and they have, it's so cool. Yeah. I totally agree. So, and for you, it's like anyone could have met your agent, right? Or a career agent. It just so happened that the manuscript that you wrote The story that you wrote resonated with him and so many others, right? Yeah. It's it's somewhat um opportunity somewhat luck, but it's definitely seizing the opportunity. I totally agree with that. And I love the percentages regardless of where they equaled 100. I hear you. I think you were right. Yeah, no, it totally makes sense though, because i like I think the hard work part and the failure part is something that
00:25:37
Speaker
It's so interesting being, and it's taken me a while to call myself a writer and an author, but like now that I, the the book has come out, it's so interesting to hear people talk about writing um and not people that you normally would talk to. And if I'm being like super can, it's just like strangers that you work with or colleagues that you work with, strangers that you run into. And some of the comments are like, oh, I wanted to write a book or, Um, I was thinking about writing a book or I have a, uh, something I've written and it's kind of like, Hmm. It makes you just think like, do you really think it's that easy? Do you really think it was, you wrote something and all of a sudden it's published and et cetera. Like it almost takes away. Um, you know, all of the hard work that you've done, um, with them thinking, Oh, you wrote, you wrote something. So maybe I think I can write something. No, that's not how it works oh at all.
00:26:36
Speaker
and all I love hearing this because I get that all the time. You hear me like we are a save-save right now. And I'm in a different boat because they want me to sign it and I'm sitting here like wait so you wrote like this historical nonfiction book like I don't even like this we're not even saying bracket bro. Don't stop. People out there stop. Just stop, please. Just stop. It does take away. I think it does sort of take away. um
00:27:14
Speaker
I mean, I don't, anyways, I think it does sort of minimize what writers do. That's the word, minimize. It definitely minimizes it and write it. I always encourage them, write it. And then when they get into the swing of writing in it and they see that it's not always cracked up to me just because you had this idea and you put it on paper, it's not going to magically become something. Like it could take days, for some it takes days, for some it takes years, a lot of peer review. It takes just brushing up your own skills. And like it takes living, right? I think a lot of people that write need to live a little. And before they can actually write something that's worth reading. And so it's like, you know, it's like write it. You come back to me in a few years and let me know how it works out.
00:28:06
Speaker
It hopefully worked out well. but yeah I always encourage people to continue on. I think writing is a great reflection tool. Write and share as much as possible. But yes, just you can write it. You can write it. but What do you look for in a manuscript? Because I know that editors have preference. They have feel for certain writers or flows or like flows or styles. like What do you look for specifically in a manuscript? Well, I look for a lot of things because I have a lot of, I have wide interests. um And I think when I first started, I was really, really in a place where I think we all were, right? Like I really started to like vigorously acquire in like 2019, right? And so I'm in this space where I'm like, I, we need to feel empowered. And so I think at,
00:29:00
Speaker
the start like at first I was really into like big empowering books, um inspirational books, um you know, those sort of really good feel good stories. And I also like character driven books. So books that have a character that could be spread across series. um I really, really like that as well. um And these days I'm looking for humor. um I, and most people will tell you they're looking for humor, but like I actually legit am. I love that. you um i I like humor plush plus, plus message driven things. there There are these books coming out where there's like, you know, no message, which I think messages is a lot, but like if you can marry humor and like a message of like, you know,
00:29:54
Speaker
pick up after yourself, but then like little things. Like I think that is good to have um during story time. And so I'm really into that. um i I've done a few biographies. I do the and don't do them as often, but I think biographies of people. So I'm doing one on Cicely Tyson. I did one on James Benjamin, right? And so people who haven't really gotten the shine in the picture book space, like i I do a few of those. um not a lot of nonfiction. I think fiction is my jam. So I also go for things that are really language driven. um So things that are rhythmic, lyrical, um even even stuff that like ah has great pacing, I think if it's like longer and it's like just like great pacing and it's immersive, right? Immersive worlds, I like those. I like a lot of stuff. So that's amazing. Well,
00:30:52
Speaker
Yeah, I love that. And i I want people of color to write these stories. I'm going to add that in at the end. I think we've been we we have been pigeonholed slightly into just writing books about our ethnicity, ah our cultures, where we're from. are our heroes, heroines, which I still want. I want all of those, yes. But I do want us to be free in what we write. I want us to dream a little bigger. I want you to write, you know, stories where there's a kid that imagines things that are like not real. They go on adventures, they go to space, like just things that are, you know, every day, but also not every day, things that are extraordinary.
00:31:40
Speaker
unordinary, I think that we should be able to write any kind of character. So I definitely want that. I'm hungry for that. um And I challenge, here we go, just write it. Who's the black lady that's going to write the next Dragon Loves Tacos? like you know I think we should do all of that. I love that. And I think we've talked about this a little bit before, and I think that's such a great message because writers who look like us and have spent a lot of time dissecting our trauma. How do we put that trauma on a page to for middle school kids, for high school kids, for adults, for children? like That is such hard work. You're reliving these experiences over and over and over again. It doesn't have to be that way.
00:32:34
Speaker
right? It doesn't have to be that way. And I think for so long, even I would I mean, even right now, I think we are still doing that. I don't see a lot of authors that have either had the opportunity to or simply writing that way. Because ah for one, I don't know how it's going to be received. And based on what we see in the market, like there's not a lot of authors of color who are making books that are Or I don't want to say making books because they're probably making the books and those books may have been like rejected, if I'm being honest, but a lot of those books haven't been received well because a lot of people publishing houses, etc. are taking the books that are about our culture.
00:33:19
Speaker
our heroes, etc, as you mentioned. So I love hearing that so much. It makes me feel so excited because I know that you will do that. And I know that there'll be more books in the world that are about joy, laughter, fun, and just like being. Yeah, let we just want to be right. Like we just want to be. And that's okay. That's it. And I also want to open this up because well, first I want to say that I am one of many who want this to happen. I know a lot of my peers, like editors, oh and like you know of color, like we are looking for this, so please write what you want to write and send it to us. I love that. Let you know who those two people are. I love that. Do illustrators. So I've always been big on, like if I'm working on a book, like
00:34:13
Speaker
like one about Cicely Tyson. I did find I do think that it's very important to have a Black illustrator because of what Cicely Tyson stood for. And I think a lot of my books, I'm very cognizant of, you know, having the right representation um creatively. Right. Like on the team. That said, I and I struggle with this a little bit and and I want illustrators to in their portfolios give us more. So for my black illustrators, like we want to see the the cute dogs. We want to see the weird sea animals. We want to see the scenes. Ones that don't have people, ones that show that you can work, you know, in the humor space or, you know, the literary space, right? Like we want to see that range in your work because we don't want to only call on them.
00:35:07
Speaker
to do the biographies or like, yeah, the issue books. Like we want them to be able to do, you know, like Kadir Nelson did this beautiful book, Baby Bear. And like, you know, that, like we want them to be able to do that. kind of stuff, as well as the beautiful undefeated, like we want them to have range. And so show that in your work, please. Show kids of color just doing fun things. Yeah, yeah it's just fun things. It's okay. Yeah. it's and now So that I think is really important that, you know,
00:35:46
Speaker
Like when I think, oh, I have this, this book about an ogre, right? I don't see a lot of black illustrators illustrating ogres or monsters, right? And so that would be great if they did that. um So we could see that range. Cause I know they can do it. It's just, they've been told that a certain thing sticks out in their portfolio. and yeah it's It's so interesting because I didn't even think about the illustrator side of that. And it's so true when I think about my favorite illustrators, like even you mentioned Kadera's like, I don't even know if I've actually read that book that he's done. I know, I know. I guess you know i love it. Because i I'm trying to think like, I felt like I read everything. But then when you said that, I was like, I don't know if I actually read that. It's how old is that book?
00:36:34
Speaker
Um, it's older than me. No, I'm kidding. It's not. It's older book though, right? It is. And, um, I'm looking now, Harper published it, Baldwin and Bray published it. Um, it is so beautiful. who It is, it's baby bear. It came out, it says 2014. Oh, so not that long ago. No, it's not that long. Yeah, just kidding. But it came out in 2014. And it's just a gorgeous book. Like, you could see ah the landscape in the bear's eyes. And he is maybe I did. I can't remember if I've seen it or not. It doesn't sound familiar, because I think when you think of him, exactly. When you think of him, you know, you think of the um story of African Americans, you think you did.
00:37:21
Speaker
um You think of the biographies that he's done. Or like, he does a lot of like, newcomers that he's done. Exactly. Yes. Or he does a lot of the like, the New Yorker, like, yeah yeah and they're they are stunning, like, stunning. But he has range. Of course, of course. And he has range. And um I'm glad that he was able to do that book and all the other books that he's done. And so I I am I am I am desperately trying now to really like when I have a manuscript that's written by someone that's not of color. Like, is there ah is there an illustrator of color that can
00:37:59
Speaker
do the right do this and match that way and just like really kind of like shake things up. the and I love that. And not the same usual suspects. So here for it. I'm here for it. I'm here for it. I have a couple more questions. One question I have to make sure I get to. I saw this in your profile and I've seen it online. um You've had the opportunity to work with some very interesting people Do you mind sharing some of the the the people that you've worked with in regards to publishing their books?
Collaborations with Famous Personalities
00:38:30
Speaker
um And I can help you if you don't remember, but I'm sure you remember it. No, I remember. I get to work with James Dee, the creator of Pete the Cat, every day. And that is like, I mean, that is crazy. That's wild. Like, we're like, he's such a cool guy. And we're like 100 books in. I got to work with D. Vomex Kendi, um the state of Zora Del Hurston Trust, who who is amazing. I got to work with Love is Wise, they're great. um LeBron James, Nina Mata, awesome team, Gabrielle Union. Oh yes, and her husband, Dwayne Wade.
00:39:13
Speaker
um doing wait um I got to work with Mary J, which is really nice. um And I might be forgetting. I got to work with Naomi Osaka, who's great. Wow. Briefly, I got to work with Ann Patchett. She did a couple of picture books with us. That's wild. Yeah. So my my boss got to work with her, it but it was like a lot. It was like sort of a team effort. um And who else? I mean, did you ever think? want you in goeslings earth um remember other people but is crazy and would you Did you ever think there would be a point where you would be, you know, like, and it started in that
00:40:02
Speaker
like I understand that they are big names, but you're they are depending on you for something, which is so phenomenal. I think that's so cool. And and I've said this before and I'll say it again, but like I appreciate you so much and just so much of what you like represent and who you are as an editor. um And I think that people like us seeing you in this position and having influence, you have influence. You really do. um It's so cool. It's so cool. Thank you. I never thought of myself that way. Well, here you go. I do my job. yeah And I read my little books. No, you're amazing. You're amazing. Thank
Impact of Mentors in Publishing
00:40:41
Speaker
you. And I owe it to like the people that came before me, um like Tracy Sherrod from Amistad. She saw me and she was like,
00:40:50
Speaker
I'm gonna take you to Nobu and we're gonna eat food. You can't even pronounce and let's talk. And she and she really did um help me a lot and in my journey here and like advocating for myself and the people around me. um so And then just seeing like the Toni Morrison's do it, the Chris Jackson's do it, right? In the adult space. And even Tracy Todd and in the children's space. so like you know, I have like a lot of people who have laid that out for me. um But it is still like, you know, Denise Milner too, who I actually worked with. I'm like her editor. I don't know how that's possible. So she, you know, just all of these people who have been doing it for for so long. um But it is a very unique experience because at Harper,
00:41:42
Speaker
i I feel like I could positively say there's never been a black woman it like at my level, like even like editor level. This is it. This is it. So it's nice to- Thank you very much. And thank you to those before before you. like We talk about it all the time, right? Sending that elevator back down. Like, what are you doing to keep moving the needle, right? And they're doing everything you possibly can. So I appreciate you so much. I really do. I would ask, like, where can people find you online? Like,
00:42:18
Speaker
a
00:42:24
Speaker
Um, no, no, no. I am starting to like mess up on the no social media. So you can find me at Lou edits books on Instagram for now. And she does post. She does post. And like not like randomly, like pretty frequently that I've noticed actually, which is really good. My personal page, like and they're like six, they're like six posts. And my fiance's like, well, I can't like any of your photos because you post once a year. Sorry. It's okay. It is totally okay. But thank you so much. This was so much fun.