Diversifying Narratives on Screen: The Film Publishers Embracing Diverse Literature
Elizabeth and Minnie Publishing Disrupts the Traditional Publishing Industry
Elizabeth and Minnie Publishing, a groundbreaking independent publishing house, is making waves in the industry by focusing on amplifying diverse and underrepresented voices. This Black-female-owned company, founded by Tanya Sam and Jeanell English, aims to disrupt the traditional publishing model that favors safe bets and proven intellectual property.
The founders' mission is to transform the publishing industry, making it more inclusive and community-driven, especially for women and voices from Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and MENA communities. This approach challenges the industry's status quo, which often prioritizes established or mainstream authors, by centering marginalized perspectives and innovative storytelling.
Elizabeth and Minnie's foundation is deeply symbolic, honoring the founders' grandmothers—Elizabeth and Minnie—whose stories and lives reflect untold experiences of Black women and immigrants. Their intertwined signatures serve as the company’s logo, reflecting continuity with past generations whose narratives were largely invisible in mainstream publishing.
The company invites manuscripts from women and underrepresented authors, encouraging diverse voices to have the opportunity to be heard and broadly shared through books and screen adaptations. This strategy contrasts with conventional publishing’s more limited scope and gatekeeping, thereby broadening the narrative landscape and increasing representation in literature and media.
Beyond book publishing, Elizabeth and Minnie announce plans for immersive events and a book club ("Tanya Time Book Club"), building a community and further extending the reach of these diverse voices. This holistic, multimedia approach exemplifies their disruption of the industry: not only publishing diverse stories but also creating platforms for their celebration and global dissemination.
One of their debut titles, "The Sun and All the Other Stars" by Cuban American author Karla Montalván, is set for publication in February 2026. The novel explores themes of belonging, queerness in Africa, and the African diaspora. Elizabeth and Minnie has also collaborated with Universal Pictures for a special event in Atlanta, inviting children, especially those from underrepresented communities, to an outdoor adventure inspired by the story.
Tanya Sam and English are determined to measure success differently, focusing on community engagement rather than bestseller lists. They are also committed to helping aspiring authors who feel locked out of the industry and aim to involve authors in the adaptation process of their stories for film or TV.
Interested authors can submit their manuscripts through the provided link and follow Elizabeth and Minnie on social media at @ElizabethMinnie. The company is built from the ground up to diversify the entertainment industry and continues to challenge the status quo, creating a more inclusive and vibrant literary landscape.
- Elizabeth and Minnie Publishing, with a focus on diversity and community, aims to disrupt the traditional publishing industry, prioritizing underrepresented voices and innovative storytelling.
- Beyond book publishing, Elizabeth and Minnie plans to host immersive events and create a book club, aiming to build a community and further the reach of diverse voices.
- The founders, Tanya Sam and Jeanell English, are determined to measure success based on community engagement, not just bestseller lists.
- One of Elizabeth and Minnie's debut titles, "The Sun and All the Other Stars" by Cuban American author Karla Montalván, explores themes of belonging, queerness in Africa, and the African diaspora.
- The company has also collaborated with Universal Pictures for a special event in Atlanta, inviting children from underrepresented communities to an outdoor adventure inspired by the story.
- Interested authors can submit their manuscripts through the provided link and follow Elizabeth and Minnie on social media at @ElizabethMinnie to stay updated.
- Elizabeth and Minnie Publishing continues to challenge the industry's status quo, working towards a more inclusive and vibrant literary landscape that celebrates diverse voices in books, entertainment, and beyond.
