A banner reading The Business of Books: A Workshop for BIPOC Literary Entrepreneurs is superimposed over an image of bright, well-lit bookstore shelves.

This fall Seattle City of Literature hosted three workshops in a series titled “The Business of Books.” The series was created with community to offer resources, build skills and connections for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) literary entrepreneurs.
The series was created and presented in partnership with African American Writers’ Association, Business Impact Northwest, Hugo House, Indigenous People’s Institute, Langston Seattle, Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, Seattle City of Literature, Seattle Credit Union, The Seattle Public Library “Library to Business” Program, Seattle Office of Economic Development, Seattle Urban Book Expo.

Thank You to Our Panelists

We’re grateful to the panelists who shared their expertise throughout the series.

September 22:
Gary Luke, former publisher Sasquatch Books
Karen Maeda Allman, formerly of Elliott Bay Book Company
Jeffrey Cheatham II, Seattle Urban Book Expo
Christina Vega, Blue Cactus Press

October 8:
Susan Perrault, Business Impact Northwest
Michael Wells, Seattle Office of Economic Development Small Business Advocate
Stephanie Lachman, Craft3
Kalani Kapahua, Third Place Books
Edwin Lindo, Estelita’s Library
Jay Lyman, The Seattle Public Library

December 6:
Taj Benford, Seattle Credit Union
Robert Williams, Rainier Valley Community Development Fund
Kristina Clark, Loving Room Books
Jay Lyman, The Seattle Public Library
Angela Garbes, author Essential Labor
Joyce Chen, The Seventh Wave Magazine
Marcus Harrison Green, author Readying to Rise

Resources from the Workshops

Library to Business Resources
The Seattle Public Library “Library to Business” program gives you free access to valuable research and databases that provide information about competitors, customers, market trends and more. Attend an event to connect with experts, learn about tools or meet with a business librarian.
Business and Nonprofit
How to Start Your Business

Financial Resources
These are just a few organizations and institutions that offer small business support.
Business Impact Northwest
Craft3
Rainier Valley Community Development Fund
Seattle Credit Union
Seattle Office of Economic Development

Resources For Writers
A few of the resources for writers that were discussed.
African American Writers’ Alliance
Clarion West Writers Workshop
Hugo House
Kweli Journal
La Sala
Roots Words Wounds
Seattle Escribe
Seattle City of Literature Community Catalog
Seattle Urban Book Expo

Resources For Booksellers and Publishers
A few of the resources for booksellers and publishers that were discussed.
American Booksellers Association
Bookstore Training Group
Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association
Seattle Urban Book Expo

Thanks to 4Culture, The Seattle Public Library, the Gary and Connie Kunis Foundation, The Seattle Times, and The Seattle Public Library Foundation for their support of the series.