What an honor to be profiled in his thoughtful piece by @thedwmckinney just out in Publishers Weekly. We were interviewed alongside @feministpress , @radix.coop , @streetnoisebooks , @leeandlow , and @restlessbooks —all independent publishers that center marginalized authors and their voices. Thank you D.W. for the beautiful conversation which helped us reconnect to our own passion for this work. We are in good company. Swipe or read below for exceprts of the article, which ends with Amber Flame’s words: “Instead of leaning into the fear, we’re leaning into what comes next—and we’re going to need stories.” ❤️🔥
Slide text:
How are independent publishers that center marginalized authors and their stories weathering the current political climate? A common theme emerged among six presses PW spoke with, whether they’ve been around for decades or just a few years: all are undeterred by the challenges ahead. Or as Kameel Mir, associate editor at Feminist
Press, puts it, “We remain a harbor for work we want to see represented in the world.”
The same holds true at Generous Press, where cofounders Elaina Ellis and Amber
Flame acquire what they bill as “lush, high-caliber” love stories from queer, BIPOC, and disabled writers. “Part of my activism and what I can offer to the world right now is this growing platform that’s subversively using love stories to change the world,” Flame says.
The press launched with 2024’s Someplace Generous: An Inclusive Romance Anthology, edited by Ellis and Flame. The 2026 catalog includes J.A. Stevens’s A Change of Pace (Feb.), which Ellis calls “Bridgerton for queers.” Struck Speechless (Apr.) is book two in Tati Richardson’s Boss Chicks Village series; Ellis says it “harkens to the 1990s golden era of Black romantic comedy.”
Flame, like others interviewed for this piece, sees publishing as a place of solace and a vehicle for action. “Instead of leaning into the fear, we’re leaning into what comes next—and we’re going to need stories.”
baby’s first flash fiction piece, in print. right on time.
I have to thank some of my favorite horror writers & inspirations, Carmen Maria Machado & @nicoleshawanjunior for pushing this piece out of draft into a real thing.
always taking @goodtalkthanks advice to ask every writer I meet more questions.
special love to my @seasaltedhoney Senegal sisters for the only things I wrote on our sojourn, it’s still changing my life: @lovebabz@_dannieruth@tabonbon13@earthmaven & Dani 🖤
🚨🚒🧯🔥 STRUCK SPEECHLESS IS OUT TOMORROW and we’re reading a passage that only *hints* at the heat between Jackie and Antonio. Grab your copy wherever books are sold, and come see @richardwriteson on tour in Atlanta, Houston, Knoxville, Seattle, or Portland!!!
Join us today for our third Quilt Session!
Line up includes:
@theamberflame at 1pm
Caleb Thompson at 2pm
Emily Pitts at 3pm
@kuwaisiana at 4pm
@kondorenzou at 7pm
@laybournmusic Band at 8pm
#quiltsessions #Seattle #livemusic #royalroom #nwfl
PART THREE of the saga. Can a queer as hell book be born again? 😇 📖 🎉
Happy pub day (again!) to A CHANGE OF PACE, an outrageous romp of a book by @j.a.stevensauthor . Your call to action, community, is to buy this book today! If you already have a copy, gift one to a friend! If you can’t afford the purchase, request it from your local library! This is a quick bit of activism that will help Generous Press continue to publish love stories by brilliant queer, Black and Brown, and disabled people. ❤️🔥
Our sales history at Generous Press is strong, but as is our first independently-published title, so the algorithm thinks we’re brand-new here! So today we invite our community to show the Powers that Be what this little press is capable of. 🦄🐣📈
Thank you for being our people! Love you! Happy pub-again day, @j.a.stevensauthor 🎉
Today is a big day!
To explain why, here’s Part 2 of the thrilling saga—what happens when an indie press gets underestimated? Generous Press 💐 vs The Algorithm 🤖
Watch or listen to the whole convo at the link in bio! Nerd out with us about ISBN numbers, book supply chains, and the advantage of being a small and nimble values-based business run by creatives 🥊. Part three coming shortly—with a call to action for YOU.
What happens when the Powers-That-Be assume a queer & trans historical romance novel by a debut author @j.a.stevensauthor , published by radically inclusive independent publishing start-up @generouspress , distributed by the righteous punks at @microcosm_pub , can’t go big right out of the gate?
Mayhem ensues!
Link in bio to get all the tea on substack, ☕️ including a big announcement we’ll share here TOMORROW 💐 💐💐
Publishing love stories with purpose, conversation with @generouspress x @ayla.author .
Publishing love stories that centre joy, desire, and radical inclusivity — that’s the heart of Generous Press and what’s personified in the book “You x Me”.
If you believe romance should reflect the full spectrum of human beauty, desire, and identity, you’re in the right place.
Full episode of this You X Me Conversation link in bio.
Generous Press publishes lush, high-caliber romance fiction and other books about love by brilliant queer, BIPOC, and disabled writers. Radical inclusivity is at the heart of our mission as we aim to please readers like you. Together we imagine a world in which all people are cherished and free. @generouspress
Preorder: 🧿❤️🔥💫
youxmebook.com
apparently the word is out. it’s my birthday and I’m as bad as I wanna be.
#yaheard
#BirthdayBitch
#AriesSeason
#ThirstSeason
#FootOnNeck
📸 by @zornbtaylor
From posh to man-spreading in the span of three slides: a love story. 📸 by Virgil.
Happy birthday eve, @theamberflame 🧁 ❤️🔥 👑. May you be empowered as the Queen, as unbothered as the rake, as entitled to life’s pleasures as one Georgina Pace.
Ladies and gentlequeers, an evening was had. Thank you to our beautiful Seattle community for showing up in Regency-inspired finery and more importantly for gathering to celebrate the power of queer and trans storytelling with Generous Press 💐💐💐.
A CHANGE OF PACE by @j.a.stevensauthor has officially been launched on two continents, and Generous Press has officially begun our first year as a fully independent publisher. It’s all happening.
A special thank you to Marissa at @swoon.city for making this event so very special, from your heartfelt into to the gilded cupcakes! What a gift to invite our community of readers into your beautiful space.
More content to come, because… look at these LOOKS! 📸 by Heather Posten with deep bows to Caro and Kathy for photo station set up and breakdown. ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
