We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristiane Weeks-Rogers. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristiane below.
Kristiane, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Supporting the mission of Small Harbor Publishing is deeply meaningful to me. It resonates with my own principles of advocating for social justice and amplifying marginalized voices. I see its impact not just in highlighting important societal issues, but also in providing a platform for writers who might otherwise be overlooked or underrepresented.
As part of a nonprofit organization like Small Harbor Publishing, I feel a deep sense of responsibility. Our goal is to publish unique and diverse voices, reinforcing our commitment to diversity and inclusion. It’s not just about publishing, it’s about fiercely advocating for our authors and their work. It’s about bringing new voices to a devoted and expanding readership.
Every time we support this mission, we contribute to the growth of our readership and we facilitate the exposure of new voices in literature. In doing so, we foster a more inclusive and diverse literary world. This is why supporting this mission is so meaningful to me.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Kristiane Weeks-Rogers (she/hers), and I’m the Managing Editor at Small Harbor Publishing. I got into the publishing industry via a long lineage of poets who pioneered passion for smashing the poetry canon and even more importantly, the poets who exude social justice within every word. I’ve always loved poetry, but my experience with multiple higher educational programs were overflowing with poetry from dead white men; we all can name them. As my own voice developed, it was important for me to be part of a mission that aligns with my values to amplify voices that are not owned by cis white men. As a person aware of their position of privilege, it’s extremely important to me to elevate the voices of those who don’t have the same privilege as I do. When I saw an opportunity to volunteer as a Poetry Editor for the fantastic spaces Small Harbor Publishing was (is continuously) creating, I put my CV in. I’m grateful for the chance that was taken on me, fresh out of grad school and workshop settings. The care and organization I give to the Small Harbor entities propelled me to the Managing Editor position I have now. When I started as a volunteer, I framed this as a way to give back to the poetry community that has always held and been good to me. I still keep this frame of mind today and am just truly happy to continue to serve the creative community at a larger scale.
The mission of Small Harbor has also adds to the value of this press. At Small Harbor Publishing, we’re very proudly a feminist press. We believe women’s rights are human rights, abortion is essential healthcare and an essential human right, and all people deserve equal protection under the law. Our goal is to address gender parity and marginalization in publishing. We are committed to giving diverse voices a home. We provide a platform for unique and diverse voices in literature; poetry, essays, and hybrid works. We publish works that highlight important societal issues and advocate for marginalized voices. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion. We don’t just publish books, we advocate for our authors and their work, and we are constantly striving to expand our readership to include as many diverse voices as possible. One of the things I’m most proud of is the growth of our readership and the exposure we’ve been able to provide for new voices across genres of literature. From rising stars to emerging poet laureates, I believe that our mission contributes to a more inclusive and diverse literary world, and that’s something I’m incredibly proud to be a part of.
I want potential clients, followers, and fans to know that when they support Small Harbor Publishing, they’re not just buying a book. They’re supporting a mission and a group of authors who might otherwise be overlooked or underrepresented. They’re contributing to the growth of diverse voices in literature, and that’s something truly special.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
As an artist or creative, one of the most rewarding aspects is the ability to identify and cultivate a supportive community. This community doesn’t just appreciate your work, but they also provide constructive feedback, inspire new ideas, and even collaborate with you. It’s not simply about sharing your creations; it’s about engaging in a dialogue, learning from others, and growing both personally and artistically. Creative communities can become a source of inspiration, motivation, and validation. There are so many communities to discovery, as well. The feeling of connection that comes from sharing your creative journey with others who understand and value your journey—and lift each other when times get tough—is truly special. It’s a reminder that art isn’t created in a vacuum, but rather as part of a dynamic, ongoing conversation with a community that values and supports a creative vision, which gives it great power.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson I had to unlearn came from my early experiences in higher education, and the lesson was blindly trust your mentors. I had two English department professors who did not support my intended writing path post-BA. One said I wouldn’t continue down the path of creative writing and poetry because I wasn’t a strong enough creative writer inherently. The other said I didn’t need to continue higher education to be a creative writer, stating that many successful canonical white men didn’t attend Master’s programs to get published. I took these words to heart, as I truly trusted the guidance of all of my teachers. But I realized that they were holding me back from what I felt—in my heart and dreams—was my future path. I decided to pursue higher education and attended Master’s programs in spite of advice otherwise from two trusted mentors. Without the guidance and the supportive community I found in these subsequent programs, I don’t think my first full-length poetry collection would have been published as soon as 2021. I wouldn’t be supporting a publishing press to help others pursue their own dreams. It’s not that it wouldn’t have happened, but the process was definitely accelerated because of the feedback, support, and the opportunity to grow into my voice (and loudly support others to do the same).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smallharborpublishing.com
- Instagram: @harboreditions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallharborpublishing
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/kristiane-weeks-rogers
- Twitter: @harbor_review
- Other: linktr.ee/harboreditions
Personal instagram: @kosmickonfetti
