Indie Publishers, Authors Tweet Comfort While Vowing to Fight Trump Threat

Those who follow my Twitter feed know that I’ve already worn down my phone screen and keyboard in reaction to Donald Trump’s election as US president. It’s cathartic to feel like 1,600 of my closest friends are following every single stray thought I have. But, in all seriousness, the literary world has reason to worry, given Trump’s contempt for the First Amendment and for any voice that does not agree with his own.

At Foreword Reviews, we were as shocked as anybody Tuesday night. But, today, we’re back and resolved to do our part to fight Trumpism with everything we have. His election only underscores the importance of what we do—provide a platform for marginalized voices to be heard.

Indie publishers are, of course, an important part of the evolving conversation over how to react to the Trump threat. They represent a wide range of communities, many of them among the ones singled out and marginalized by Trump. Here’s a sample of their Twitter reactions.

Foreword Reviews

First, here’s our statement on Trump’s election.

https://twitter.com/ForewordReviews/status/796367490657976320

Lee & Low Books

Lee & Low Books specializes in diversity. It’s what they do. And diversity is something that Trump has a little trouble with. Still, Lee & Low chose first to speak to their own readers, who are justifiably afraid.

https://twitter.com/LEEandLOW/status/796370302326423552

Haymarket Books

Haymarket Books has been a radical publisher for a long time, so being the rebellious voice is a role they’re used to. What Haymarket did, though, was a call for courage amid a free book giveaway.

https://twitter.com/haymarketbooks/status/796506036911882240

Fig Tree Books

Fig Tree specializes in books on the Jewish American experience. Many younger American Jews have faced explicit anti-Semitism from Trump fans via social media for the first time in their lives. It was a shock to many, who thought those attitudes no longer existed in this country. Still, Fig Tree chose a message of togetherness from President Obama.

https://twitter.com/FigTreeBks/status/796434611442253824