Tina McElroy Ansa Founds New Publishing House

Posted on April 14, 2007

Fed up with the publishing industry's indifference to serious fiction by black writers, novelist Tina McElroy Ansa founded her own publishing house. Ansa is the founder of the Sea Island Writers Retreat and has published four novels, all with major publishers. Her new venture is called DownSouth Press.

Based on St. Simons Island, Ga., the press plans to issue four lists a year, with no more than three books each. Each seasonal list will feature a new title by an established author and at least one by a debut writer. DownSouth Press's first list will be released in the fall and the lead title will be Ansa's new novel, Taking After Mudear, a sequel to the author's Ugly Ways (Harcourt).
The press plans to publish in hardcover and trade paperback simultaneously. The press will accept only agented manuscripts after July 1. DownSouth is currently in talks with several distributors, but has yet to make a selection. Veteran editor and book retailer Blanche Richardson will be DownSouth's senior editor and the press will use a number of editorial freelancers.

Sounds like a great idea to us: the house has some interesting new titles lined up already. You can visit DownSouth Press' new website here.