Did you know that only 5% of widely read novels from major publishers between 1950 and 2018 were written by BIPOC authors?

Grab your cafecito and sit down for this one, because in this week's episode, we explore what it truly looks like for BIPOC authors in the publishing industry, how Indie Bookstores support them, and how you can make a difference in these statistics with minimal effort and more conscientious choices. 

What are you willing to give up in the name of representation?

Additional Show Notes: Reflect sources for factual data presented in this episode. 

**Primary source:** Richard Jean So & Gus Wezerek, *"Just How White Is the Book Industry?"* — *The New York Times*, Dec. 11, 2020. Based on a dataset of ~8,000 fiction books by ~4,100 authors published by major U.S. houses between 1950–2018.
 - The study found **95% of these books were by white authors**, meaning BIPOC authors accounted for the remaining ~5%.
 - Independently confirmed by PEN America's *"Reading Between the Lines"* report, which cites the same 95%/5% figure.
- Penguin Random House released internal survey data showing **23.5% of authors published 2019–2021 identified as people of color.**
 - Hachette Book Group's 2022 diversity update reported **34% of 2021 book acquisitions were with self-identified BIPOC authors/illustrators**, up from 29% (2020) and 22% (2019). Source: Hachette Book Group, *"An Update on HBG's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Efforts,"* March 2022.
 - PEN America's report confirms that, as of August 2022, the other three of the Big Five had not made comparable author diversity data public.
Cristina Rivera Garza — awards named in the episode
 - **Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize** — won twice (one of only two authors to do so).
 - **MacArthur Fellowship** — awarded 2020.
 - Confirmed via Wikipedia, University of Houston faculty page, and multiple news outlets (Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media, CultureMap Houston).
 - Rivera Garza also won the **2024 Pulitzer Prize for Memoir or Autobiography** for *Liliana's Invincible Summer* 

If you enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or tag us on social media @casalunabooks across all platforms! 

Be sure to follow the podcast and keep the conversation going! 

Representation and change happen with small, intentional actions! 

 Episode 0: Welcome to the Shelf
Before we dive into books, guests, and everything in between, take five minutes to hear what is behind Casa Luna Unshelved. In this quick intro, I share why representation in literature matters so much, what pushed me to open Casa Luna Books, and what to expect from the show going forward. Welcome to the shelf — glad you're here. Hope you stay. 

If you enjoyed this episode, consider sharing it with a friend or tag us on social media @casalunabooks across all platforms! 

Be sure to follow the podcast and keep the conversation going! 

Representation and change happen with small, intentional actions!