their own stories.” Teachers are well placed to offer these reminders, to explicitly teach that stories can be based on life experience and that all children deserve to see themselves written on the page, regardless of genre.
When Jasmine is not ideating or editing for Storymix she is writing her own novels – including the recently published The Unmorrow Curse. She enjoys writing fast-paced fantasy, and in part they are inspired by the lack of what was available when she was a child.
“Inclusivity in children’s fiction matters. If young readers from under-represented backgrounds continue not to see themselves in books, then they will choose other media that reflects them better. These same children are less likely to grow up to be authors and the cycle of under- representation continues,” emphasises Jasmine. Creative writing is heavily influenced by what we read and what we watch, so giving black and brown children access to books where they can see themselves in stories is vital. Bookshelves need to remain diverse and representative, with books by authors of colour sitting alongside their peers. Librarians and booksellers can support this, making sure that these books are prominently displayed and making the most of easy-to-see table top collections that prompt investigation by potential audiences. “Having a culture and diet of books with a focus on characters of colour, written by authors of colour – that’s what will shift biases,” believes Jasmine. “Children exposed to different cultures, viewpoints and backgrounds grow up to understand the world better, and change the world for the better.” With the number of inclusive titles being acquired or commissioned increasing, what else can publishers do to ensure that changes in representation and inclusivity remain in place and don’t become overlooked in the future? “Take the opportunity to grow the audience,” says Jasmine. She believes that “through careful thinking and maximising budgets, publishers have the opportunity to reach additional and different audiences in other demographics with their marketing strategies.”
Publishers also have the power to make long- lasting changes by hiring staff from black, Asian, mixed race and ethnic minority backgrounds at all levels within their organisation, from editorial and sales to the design team. Initiatives exist to support publishers with this, but to what extent do recruitment teams reflect on the progression and retention of staff from under-represented groups? Work must be done to evaluate the longer-term position of new entrants to determine what their career paths look like, how long it takes for them to secure promotion and, more importantly, whether they are remaining in the industry. The same is true for writers and illustrators. Jasmine is hopeful that there is work coming that tracks who gets the second book deal, or the third or fourth. It is Storymix’s job to keep making books, and to keep asking the tricky questions, so that changes to the publishing landscape are firmly embedded and long-lasting. PEN&INC.
The Unmorrow Curse is published by UCLAN and available to buy online and in all good bookshops.
Autumn-Winter 2022 PEN&INC. 25
Jasmine at the book launch of The Unmorrow Curse.
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