We’re Still Here. Are You Still With Us?

I have a lot that I need to say here, but first I will reiterate what I posted on our Indiegogo campaign last month. Namely, we’re still working hard, we’re getting the anthology out as quickly as we can, and we’re looking forward to bringing you a lot more stories in the coming year.
To quote the campaign:
So here we are! Site is updated, new features are being tested for subscriptions and one-off purchases for access to individual stories. Speaking of stories, we’ll be opening up for submissions again in March, and we’ve got some surprises in store in the coming weeks and months. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported us, encouraged us and been there from the beginning. We couldn’t have gotten this far without you, and we hope you’ll still be with us on the next leg of this journey.
Now on to the rest.
When I first created Sanguine Press, I envisioned a community where stories and artwork focused on People of Color could be shared and celebrated. I still believe in that, now more strongly than ever. But recent events have also made me realize that I need to do better about not only telling stories that focus on People of Color, not only showcasing artwork that features People of Color, but in uplifting and supporting creators who are People of Color.
Now, I’m not about to take up the gargantuan task of policing people’s identities or telling anyone what to write or draw. I believe that creativity and celebration of creatives is necessary to help us remember who we are and what kind of people we strive to be. “Keep Creating” is not just a glib email signature—I firmly believe that art in all of its myriad forms is what breathes life and purpose into existence as a whole.
What I am saying is that for us, here, at Sanguine Press, we are invested in putting forth stories and artwork that come from the unique lived perspective of People of Color.
That means that all submissions by People of Color will be given first consideration for publication. It also means that some anthologies will focus on creatives who are Women of Color and the stories they want to tell.
Please note that this policy does not affect anyone who has already submitted, and going forward we will make it very clear in the submission guidelines what our requirements are for our authors and artists.
I hope that you can understand and respect why we are moving in this direction. It is essential to me that we all keep working together, while at the same time having our individual spotlights to cherish and uplift what we do. Our Facebook page and groups are open to everyone who is interested in our work and willing to be respectful, kind, and honest.
Thank you all again, and we’ll be reaching out with our next update in the near future. Be kind to each other, and to yourselves. And always—
Keep Creating