The Crown Publishing Group is launching Storehouse Voices, an imprint committed to elevating Black voices. Developed in partnership with entrepreneur and philanthropist Tamira Chapman, Storehouse Voices will publish a range of nonfiction and fiction and promote "the richness of Black storytelling through intentional acquisitions and hiring efforts, strategic partnerships, and authentic, equity-minded community outreach," according to the company, which added that it was founded "with a mission of bridging the representation gap of authors of color in the publishing industry."
Chapman, who will serve as publisher of Storehouse Voices, is the founder and CEO of Storehouse in a Box, a global merchandising company. Through her multiyear association with Penguin Random House, she has supported numerous publications by hosting large virtual events with authors, including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and poet Amanda Gorman.
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| Tamira Chapman | |
Porscha Burke, who most recently served as senior editor and director of DEI strategy for the Crown and Random House Publishing Groups, has been named associate publisher of Storehouse Voices. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the publishing industry.
Jennifer Baker, who previously served as senior editor at Amistad Books and who most recently was senior program manager at Narrative Initiative, has been appointed as editorial director of Storehouse Voices, effective February 10.
Also joining the Storehouse Voices editorial team will be Chelcee Johns as executive editor, effective February 3. She has 15 years of editorial and digital content strategy experience in book publishing, digital media, and online magazines, and is currently a senior editor at Ballantine.
"We're creating a home for Black voices and celebrating the richness of diverse storytelling," said Chapman. "I'm deeply grateful to the tens of thousands of Black women whose passion and dedication to excellence in literature made this moment possible, and to David Drake, Porscha Burke, and Penguin Random House for their leadership and belief in the importance of amplifying Black voices. Diverse authors have a home here, and we call on the brightest talent in publishing to join us in reshaping the narrative. Together, we will tell bold, inclusive stories that honor our experiences, amplify our voices, and redefine the future of storytelling for generations to come."
David Drake, president of the Crown Publishing Group, noted that Chapman "has long demonstrated an unwavering commitment to developing content that speaks to the experience of the audiences she serves and that fosters an authentic sense of community. Crown is honored to partner with her and the talented team at Storehouse Voices to break some publishing molds that have long needed to be broken to better serve diverse authors and readers."
Burke added: "It is not lost on me that Toni Morrison, as an editor at Random House, still needed to get the approval of others in order to acquire books for her list. The curatorial power Tamira and Storehouse will enjoy--and our collective deep roots in both reader communities and traditional publishing structures--is the fruit of such incredible ancestors' labor. It is an honor to be able to expand the impact of their work in such fresh and exciting ways."
Baker said, "For many of us, books are our lifeblood as well as our life's work. Storehouse Voices represents an innovative way to share stories of the African diaspora; Storehouse's mission also speaks to so much of what I've loved about the arts and its many intersections.... It's a true honor to collaborate and dream with this team."
Johns said that Storehouse Voices is "answering a felt need in the industry for both authors and readers alike while making innovation and authenticity key cornerstones. I look forward to being a part of the foundation-building of such an imprint and bringing books to the world that impact, uplift, and entertain."