Whitechapel Books
Are you a writer or journalist from a migrant or ethnic minority background who is looking for a space to develop your creativity, but who feels excluded by the discrimination in the mainstream publishing industry?
Are you someone who wants to write or develop your journalism and have your voice heard, but feels marginalised in a media landscape controlled by conglomerates?
Whitechapel Books is the place for you.
What does it mean to work with us, in concrete terms?
It means avoiding potentially exploitative literary agents who are interested primarily in making you conform to the rules of the mainstream publishing industry.
Working with us means writing from your own perspective without the pain of fitting in with a corporate media agenda that puts appeasing mainstream tastes and selling copies before everything.
It means being yourself as a writer and journalist, and being honest and authentic in your voice.
About us...
Whitechapel Books is an independent publishing forum based in Whitechapel, East London.
It was founded by Hsiao-Hung Pai, in memory of her partner Dave Norman Barkway who passed away on the 14th of September, 2023. Dave is known as a proud Eastender. He chose to come to live in the East End of London for its history and its vibrant and diverse communities.
Whitechapel Books was founded with love for our neighbourhood and the part of London that we have chosen to be home.
We believe in publishing for the communities, not for profit. The forum has an excellent team of writers and editors who come from a diverse range of backgrounds that represent the multicultural nature of the communities around us.
Editors:
Panos Theodoropoulos
Sociologist, editor of Interregnum and author of The Precarious Migrant Worker
Jeremy Riggall
Documentary filmmaker and the founder of a film production firm Sketch.
Artist & illustrator:
Shahena Begum
Rooted in Bethnal Green. She draws inspiration from her surroundings and the experiences that have shaped her.
What do we publish...
We publish non-fiction books. We are interested in:
- Social history, with a focus on under-represented people and communities in East London;
- Memoirs and oral histories;
- Investigative journalism, particularly those works that expose social ills and injustices in Britain.
Books
Forthcoming book:
Shall I Stay or Shall I Go: Diary of a Delivery Rider, publication date to be confirmed
Submissions
We welcome talented writers and journalists who would like to publish their books. We'd also love to hear from you if you are writing your first book.
If you are interested in publishing your work with us, please send your book proposal to Hsiao-Hung Pai by email: whitechapelbookslondon@gmail.com.
We will respond within seven working days.
Contact
If you have any queries, please email:
whitechapelbookslondon@gmail.com
