I have a new and exciting project to share with you today dear readers. One that I hope gets the support and becomes a reality for all involved.
There is always room in the world for more books, more voices, more creativity. Let’s fill it with literature bliss and devour the words that talented authors dish up for us. Let’s never stop reading, supporting writers and publishers. Let’s share our stories and dreams with each other. Let’s make Mainstream happen!
Inkandescent in partnership with Unbound are seeking pledges for their most ambitious project yet: Mainstream is an anthology of stories from the edges, bringing thirty authors in from the margins to occupy centre-page. Queer storytellers. Working class wordsmiths. Chroniclers of colour. Writers whose life experiences give unique perspectives on universal challenges, whose voices must be heard. And read.
The collection will be published Summer 2021. It features established authors Elizabeth Baines, Gaylene Gould, Golnoosh Nour, James Maker, Jonathan Kemp, Julia Bell, Juliet Jacques, Keith Jarrett, Kerry Hudson, Kit de Waal, Leoni Ross, Neil Bartlett, Neil McKenna, Padrika Tarant, Paul McVeigh and Philip Ridley. The other stories will be by emerging authors and they’ve partnered with writer development agency Spread the Word to seek out new talent.
Everyone who pledges will receive a copy of the book. Their name will be printed in the back. For those who are able to pledge more, rewards include manuscript critiques and photo shoots. How awesome is that dear reader?
The campaign is now live at –https://unbound.com/books/mainstream/
‘It’s high time for independent, forward-thinking new publishers like Inkandescent, who are publishing something different, out of the mainstream and giving new voices a chance. Fantastic.’—Kit de Waal
Inkandescent were founded in 2016 by Justin David and Nathan Evans to champion ideas and voices underrepresented in mainstream publishing. Threads, their first publication (and collaboration) was funded by Arts Council England and long-listed for the Polari First Book Prize, of which their second publication AutoFellatio by James Maker was the inaugural winner. The Guardian described their third publication The Pale Ones by Bartholomew Bennett as an ‘impressive debut’.
Justin David is their publisher; he’s also a writer and photographer. A child of Wolverhampton, he now lives and works in London, graduated from the MA Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths, has read for Polari Literary Salon at Royal Festival Hall and was a founder member of Leather Lane Writers with Kit de Waal. His novella The Pharmacist is published by Inkandescent.
Nathan Evans is their editor; he’s also a writer, director and performer whose work has been funded by the Arts Council, toured with the British Council, archived in the British Film Institute, broadcast on Channel Four and presented at venues including Royal Court Theatre, Royal Festival Hall and Royal Vauxhall Tavern. His collection CNUT is published by Inkandescent.
Unbound is a crowdfunding publisher. They believe great ideas shouldn’t fall between the cracks because they don’t fit the mould, so they’ve built a platform allowing people to champion the voices which deserve to be heard. Their community of 247,007 people from 206 countries have pledged £8,793,698 to fund 530 projects—and counting—from bestsellers to award-winners.
Let’s make this book happen dear reader. Any support, share, like, comment or pledge, will be greatly appreciated. We have the power to make this dream a reality. Let’s release these stories out into the wild, for all to see and indulge. They are dying to be read! Let’s do this!
@InkandescentUK
inkandescentuk
Hop hop wiggle wiggle
Bunny’s Pause 