Thread by @jbakernyc

Hey everyone! I’m back online from hiatus and it's been an interesting few weeks. As I'm sure some have been wondering (and asking), I wanted to make sure to set the record straight on why I am no longer at Amistad. Buckle up for a thread… #ICYMI

On August 29, 2022, at around 10am ET, I was abruptly informed that the Senior Editor role at Amistad was being eliminated and thus my services in this position were no longer needed. I was also told that my official last day at HarperCollins would be September 9th. (1/?)

Within 30 min. of being informed of this my HarperCollins account was disabled. I was unable to effectively do my job or contact my authors/coworkers as an employee. None of my colleagues were alerted of management’s sudden decision about the dissolution of this position. (2/?)

Within 30 minutes of this happening the new Editorial Director for Amistad was announced internally. Later that same day, the Amistad editorial team and publisher would have a brief meeting with the new ED in which I was not previously alerted of. (3/?)

[I was also not aware that a new director was being named on 8/29. (4/?)]

The week all this occurred, outside of one agent, none of my authors nor their agents were told of the job elimination by HC folx. No plan was readily in place on who would manage my titles or be a good fit for the authors who had entrusted me with their work. (5/?)

Y'all, I am not the first, nor the last person to be laid off. But let's be clear: It is NOT a coincidence that TWO Black women with 20(+) years of experience in book #publishing are no longer at Amistad within months of each other. (6/?)

While it is disheartening to be treated this way as an individual who accomplished a bit (I'll get to this), I'm mostly dismayed at how the authors I worked with have been disregarded. (Keep in mind, all but one are BIPOC.) (7/?)

Not allowing me the opportunity to at least transition them to other editors was unnecessary. And I remain upset at this treatment of creators of color when they were assured Amistad was a safe home for them/their work. (8/?)

Creators don't solely pick publishers, they pick *editors.* Folx I have worked with in #publishing know that I take the utmost care with their projects. What has transpired and HOW things transpired on August 29th does not show care. (9/?)

While I am sad I won't be able to see these authors' phenomenal books to publication, I am *incredibly* proud of everything I was able to do in my 19 months at Amistad. Such as: (10/?)

1) Acquiring 18 books—13 announced that includes the acquisition, development, & project management of THE biggest book for the fiscal year under the HarperOne division + 5 TBA titles: debut poetry, celeb memoir, historical nonfiction, short stories, and a graphic novel. (11/?)

2) Establishing Amistad’s formal poetry line (and working with Design on branding) for annual publications by established and debut Black poets starting at 2 books a year. (12/?)

3) Based on my love of #poetry, I was also editorial point for another poetry partnership. (13/?)

4) Initiating Amistad’s bimonthly IG Live series with editorial assistants & marketing dept. to broaden Amistad’s social media presence. And acting as a public ambassador for Amistad at events. (14/?)

5) Outsourcing influencer list creation for use/outreach on upcoming titles based on genre & focus. (15/?)

6) Building specialized media contacts list alongside authors for 2023 frontlist titles. (16/?)

7a) Overseeing the transition of the majority of prev. director Tracy Sherrod's books after her and her assistant's departures while also taking on the majority of these titles at a dozen or more, ultimately totaling 30+ frontlist/paperback titles under my management. (17/?)

7b) The above number doesn’t include the backlist titles I covered as well. Oh *and* ensuring Tracy's assistant left transitional notes and all materials available for remaining Amistad staff. (18/?)

8) Being point of contact for the Zora Neale Hurston Estate among other standing relationships forged & maintained by Tracy. (19/?)

As you can see, I kept pretty dang busy in my 19 months at Amistad. And once again, I thank the authors and agents who considered me for their work for allowing me to be part of your journeys. (20/20)