Walking Backwards into the Future
The book publishing industry has undergone significant changes in the last 2 dacedes, primarily due to advancements in technology and changes in consumer behavior, leading to new opportunities and challenges for publishers and authors alike. Some of the major changes include:
Rise of e-books: The introduction of e-books and e-readers like Kindle has significantly changed the way people read and purchase books. E-books have become increasingly popular due to their convenience and affordability.
Self-publishing: With the rise of digital publishing platforms such as Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing, anyone can now self-publish their own book without going through traditional publishing channels. This has given more writers the opportunity to get their work out to the public.
Growth of audiobooks: Audiobooks have become a popular alternative to traditional reading, with the growth of digital downloads making it easier to access them. This has led to an increase in the production and availability of audiobooks.
Consolidation of publishing houses: In the past two decades, there has been a trend towards consolidation within the publishing industry, with larger publishers acquiring smaller ones. This has led to fewer overall publishers and increased competition within the industry.
Social media marketing: Social media has become a crucial tool for book promotion and marketing, with authors and publishers using platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to reach readers and promote their books.
While publishing with established houses can be lucrative, it has become increasingly challenging, especially for new and emerging writers. Mainstream publishers typically prioritize authors with substantial followings or those who are experts in their fields, making it difficult for other writers to get noticed. As a result, many writers turn to self-publishing, but this can be a daunting process, particularly for internationally displaced individuals with limited financial resources.
Many displaced and refugee writers come from societies with a history of multigenerational conflicts and postcolonialism, and their homelands often lack genuine stability and security. Despite these challenges, these writers possess unique perspectives, lived experiences, and compelling stories that could enrich our understanding of their upbringings and the consequences of these experiences.
This is where LivenBooks steps in. We are committed to providing an inclusive platform that amplifies the voices of immigrant/migrant, displaced, and refugee writers whose work is often marginalized by mainstream publishing houses. Our mission is to publish authentic, uncensored, and unfiltered literature that sheds light on the lives of those who live on the fringes of society.
The concept for LivenBooks was born out of founder Gabriel Ndayishimiye's interactions with Mary Metcalfe in 2021. At the time, Gabriel was working towards publishing his debut memoir, Run Elvin!, which was ultimately published under Mary's company, Laskin Publishing, on December 6th, 2021. A month later, on January 7th, 2021, LivenBooks was incorporated as a not-for-profit publishing house under Corporations Canada.
The name "Liven" comes from Gabriel's first name, which was given to him in honor of his father. Like many Rwandan children of his generation, Gabriel lost his father in 1994 during the Rwandan genocide. Despite this loss, Gabriel's father remains a source of inspiration to him. Had he lived, he would have pursued a career in education, as both he and Gabriel's mother were studying to become teachers. Gabriel's mother went on to become a primary school teacher in Burundi and has fulfilled their shared dream.
While Gabriel's father serves as a source of inspiration, his belief in transformative learning is the driving force behind LivenBooks. Gabriel is passionate about promoting critical consciousness across cultural worlds by challenging belief systems, and he sees books and writers as essential educators on many levels. Through LivenBooks, Gabriel hopes to provide a platform for marginalized writers to share their stories and inspire transformative learning in readers.
LivenBooks is currently in its early stages and is receiving guidance from a group of professional associates to bring non-academic literature, poetry, and other forms of artistic expression to the market. Our focus is on exploring the lived experiences of immigrants, migrants, displaced persons, and refugees from around the world. To achieve our goal of expanding international understanding of the impacts of displacement on multiple generations of people, we have created a volunteer Advisory Group consisting of experts in various fields such as writing, editing, publishing, copyright, branding, social media, marketing, media relations, promotion, and legal considerations.
Our ultimate objective is to educate and engage governments, politicians, policymakers, educators, and others about the tangible effects that displacing millions of people, including the youth, has on a nation's ability to stabilize, grow, flourish, retain the next generation, and stem the flow of young intellectuals to the West in search of a life they cannot aspire to in their home countries. As we continue to grow, our mission is to provide an inclusive platform for stories that are uncensored, unfiltered, authentic, and illustrative of people living on the margins of society.
