Image description: a crow reads from a book it is holding in one claw, while standing on a pile of books and papers. 

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The Blackbird Storytelling Publishing Collective is an indie publishing cooperative for new and emerging makers, mavens, and matriarchs. Our aim is to disrupt the harm that Black women and disabled authors often experience in traditional publishing models, and instead co-create liberated approaches to publishing that amplify silenced voices and talents-in-the-rough; build trust, community and safe spaces for storytelling; and facilitate authentic models of care and family-sustaining income for indie creators who write from the margins to turn their pain into power.

According to Jane Friedman:  

“In a business-based author collective, members share the work needed to edit, produce, and market their books. Members focus on mutual success. They pool their resources and time to undertake the editing, formatting, and promotion of books created by individual writers or by several authors who are writing a book together. They may have an associated publishing company, or members may publish independently.

A business-based author collective achieves synergy from many people working on each book and each bringing his or her unique skill set to the production process. Sharing the editing work saves money, and marketing reach is broader than any one person could easily achieve, resulting in more sales potential.”

We need your help to make this one-of-a-kind vision real. We are crowdfunding to cover start-up costs, which will allow us to facilitate the creation of a small but mighty publishing co-op that will likely include: new & emerging authors, artists & graphic designers, marketing experts, talent management, and general counsel. The founding members will clarify our defined purpose & structure, establish operating agreements, create a business and marketing plan, and pilot a cooperative publishing process with our inaugural title: The New Matriarchs: Letters on Soul Work, Grief Work, and Mother Work, written by blackbird storytelling founder Lesli LeGras.