Melanin in YA

Melanin in YA  is currently in progress as a database for all things Black in traditional Young Adult (this does not include middle grade or new adult) publishing. Melanin in YA was made for a variety of reasons that boil down to having a space to lead people to when they say that they can’t find XYZ. Melanin in YA is a no excuses database.

This database is not just for readers or just for writers. It’s for authors looking to advocate for a specific cover designer or audiobook narrator. It’s for organizers to find panelists who are all in the same time zone. Etc. The goal is for everyone in the book community to have a need filled by Melanin in YA. This is no small feat. I believe it’s worth it.

Melanin in YA soft launched on August 30, 2020. Melanin in YA plans to officially launch on January 4, 2021. This database was created and is run by one person. Melanin in YA would like to take care of start up costs for launch and I am asking for your help to meet this housekeeping goal by November 2020. Here’s what I am asking financial coverage for:

Initial Goal
Early Domain Renewal
Hosting Upgrade
Hire Graphic Designer
1 Hardcover New Release Book Giveaway on Social Media in January 2021, February 2021, and March 2021
GoFundMe Percentage
$1,750 Total

Here’s What’s Coming Soon to Melanin in YA

* Home
News including book deals, movie/TV adaptation news, cover reveals, excerpts, new releases, ebook deals, awards news, and 2021 debut interviews.

* Directories
- Organized by Agents, Authors, Cover Designers, Editors, Narrators, Anonymous Publishing Paid Me Database, Subscription Boxes

Coming Soon to Author Profiles in Progress:
Book Covers
ISBN Numbers
Buy Links including where to get signed books from author’s local indie bookstore
Links to Starred Reviews
Speaking Engagement Topics
Dream IP Projects

Coming Soon to Agent Page in Progress:
Partial/Full Response Time
What Agents Are Not Interested In
Links to Interviews

Coming Soon to Narrators Page in Progress:
Audiobook Running Times 

Coming Soon:
The ability to search books by medium (novels, anthologies, graphic novels), genre, LGBTQIA representation, disability representation, books set in different countries, books set in present tense or past tense, books in First Person or Third Person, and books in Dual POV and multiple POV. Also, the ability to search authors by country, state, and coast.

* Influencers
List of Black Celebrities promoting YA books on their social media accounts and lists for Black Bloggers, BookTubers, and Bookstagrammers who feature Black YA Authors

* Events
- Organized by Author Events, Conferences & Conventions, Festivals, Workshops & Fellowships
Updates Only. Please let me know if you’d like events graphics added to this page.

* Adaptations
Updates Only. Please let me know if there is anything else you’d like to see on this page.

* NYT List
Consecutive Weeks on The List
When Books Hit #1
Analysis of time spent on The List during a movie/TV adaptation release
NYT Bestsellers Paperback List Stats Page
Series Stats Page
Graphic Novels Stats Page

* Physical Black Owned Bookstores
Locations
Store Hours
Social Media Links

Possibly Coming Soon
Melanin in YA would love to create a directory for Black high school teachers in the United States who have Amazon book wish lists for their classrooms. If this sounds interesting to you, please let me know.

Want more?
Please fill out this survey , which will close on September 20, 2020. You can also email Melanin in YA at anytime to let me know what you’d like to see on this database. If you are featured on this database and your profile needs an update, please do not hesitate to reach out. If you are Black in traditional YA publishing and you are not yet in the database, please reach out so that I can add you before the official launch. 

If for whatever reason, Melanin in YA happens to surpass the goal, excess will go towards book giveaways.

While every dollar counts, please do not stress if you cannot give at this time. As someone who was laid off from March-May due to COVID and wonders everyday if the following week at work will be their last again, I understand. Whether or not you can give, please follow Melanin in YA for updates on Twitter  and Instagram and please spread the word about what Melanin in YA is doing.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for supporting this passion project. It means more than you will ever know.

Thank you.