Trade Group Looks to Use Black Power

At a time when African-American publishing ventures, not to mention individual black self-publishers, are proliferating, a group comprising experienced and relatively new black publishers is attempting to launch the first black trade publishing association since a failed attempt in the 1980s.

Niani Colom, associate publisher at black romance publisher Genesis Press, has been instrumental in forming the Black Book Publishers Trade Association, which is launching with 20 members. The BBPTA plans to look into using group buying power to lower costs for printing and paper purchases, Colom said, and also hopes to help black publishers train and retain staff. An early focus will be on education, Colom explained, adding that she is in discussions with both the AAP and the PMA to hold joint seminars. "We think the growing number of black publishers is a trend, not a fad," said Colom. "Urban fiction is growing, black Christian fiction is growing and an association will help everyone."

As for Genesis Press, Colom said it has made great strides since signing a distribution agreement with Kensington Books in 2004. She claims close to a 50% increase "in every area from revenues to the retail outlets handling our books." This year, she said, the 10-year-old romance house will publish 36 books under five imprints. Genesis has added literary fiction as well as multiracial and gay/lesbian romance titles over the last year. The publisher expects "to be more aggressive on foreign and film rights sales and we're looking to bring in new authors from Africa and the Caribbean," Colom said.