Buying Books for Incarcerated Authors!

Hi, my name is Adam, and I'm writing on behalf of the editorial team of the new anthology, "Flying Kites: Narratives of Prison Literacies in Essays and Art."

 

In the fall of 2019, the four of us decided to create an anthology of critical essays detailing the literacy practices of incarcerated learning spaces. Furthermore, we felt the best way to learn more about prison literacy was to privilege the voices of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated writers, and in the beginning of 2020, we began the daunting task of soliciting submissions directly from prisons across the United States. In American jails and prisons, notes and letters are commonly referred to as “kites,” and we crossed our fingers as we let the wind carry our invitation away from us.

 

Shortly after our submission call was sent out, the world was shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prisons and detention facilities were most gravely impacted by the epidemic, and we lost touch with many of our contributors for great lengths of time. Editors of the anthology worked diligently to retain contact with contributors while locked out of our offices and working from home. After three years of overcoming obstacle after obstacle, this book is finally complete and available to the world. This publication would never have seen the light of day if not for the persistence of contributors who demanded that their voices be heard.

 

We created this fundraiser to ensure that all of our contributing authors and artists are given a copy of their own book. We decided to publish this anthology with DIO Press because they are one of the most affordable academic publishing houses in the United States and are committed to social justice initiatives. We wanted to ensure this book was accessible to everyone. The book retails between $35 - 45 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, which is affordable compared to other academic publications. But we want to do better! With your help, we will put a physical book in the hands of every contributor in the anthology.

 

We are raising $2500 to buy at least 50 books to distribute to incarcerated authors and prison libraries across the United States. We titled the book "Flying Kites" because we want to send a message that literacy learning is vital in all spaces. This book covers the struggles and successes of reading and writing in prisons and detention facilities. With your help, the brilliant authors of this meaningful book will better know their impact on the world.

Buy your copy today in hardback, paperback, or E-book: https://www.diopress.com/flying-kites.
100% of book royalties go to El Refugio:  https://www.elrefugiostewart.org/about-us/