Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsea Johnson.
Hi Kelsea, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I co-founded Stirred Stories in 2020 with a friend from college. What started as a coffee shop conversation about the severe lack of equity in the publishing world is now an independent publishing company with six books and counting under our belt.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Things have been pretty smooth for us overall!
But every small business has its hiccups, and Stirred Stories has encountered a few. My co-founder and I were publishing rookies and our first challenge was convincing an author to take a chance on us.
Fortunately, we’re a mission-driven company and our mission speaks for itself: we’re committed to uplifting authors from marginalized backgrounds. Since signing our first authors it’s been a pretty natural process finding other folks who share our belief that the publishing industry should reflect the diversity of society as a whole.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Stirred Stories?
As an independent publishing house that exclusively works with authors from underrepresented backgrounds, Stirred Stories is shifting the narrative in the publishing industry.
What does this look like in practice? For starters, we have a growing catalog of books featuring BIPOC, femme, LGBTQIA+, and religiously diverse characters. And for us, diversity and authenticity are founding pillars––not an afterthought. Our values are our everything and I’m proud of that.
What does success mean to you?
The publishing industry today––that is, the major publishing houses that decide what ends up in bookstores, in classrooms, and on bookshelves––is over 70% white, cis-women, and straight. This leaves much to be desired when it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
All communities deserve to see themselves reflected in mainstream narratives, right? Success for Stirred Stories means categorically reshaping the types of books that make it to your local bookshop and bestseller lists. Success for us means providing authors, illustrators, and editors who are typically overlooked the opportunity to connect with audiences who’ve been craving the stories they’re excited to tell.
Success for us means the publishing industry reflecting society overall. For Stirred Stories, success means publishing for a better tomorrow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stirredstories.com/
- Instagram: @StirredStories
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stirred-stories/
Image Credits
Stirred Stories
