Inclusive indies fundraiser hits £100k target

The #InclusiveIndies crowdfund has exceeded its £100,000 target, following a £10,000 donation from Audible.

The Amazon-owned audiobook company gave its support to the initiative, started by independent publishers Jacaranda Books and Knights Of in collaboration with literary charity Spread the Word.

The crowdfunder seeks to raise funds for the two independents, with a percentage going to other diversity-led independent publishers in the UK. It has now exceeded its original £100,000 target, and has been raised to £150,000.

Aimée Felone, publisher and co-founder of Knights Of, tweeted: "To know and see that in the midst of everything our community still got us, endless thank yous to you all".

A spokesperson for Jacaranda Books added: "Because of you we have reached our target. It felt impossible, you made it possible, thank you, thank you!"

Audible has also partnered with Jacaranda Books for its Twenty in 2020 Black British writing programme, which commits to publishing 20 black writers in a year.

An Audible spokesperson said: “It's clearly never been more important to ensure representation in the stories we tell and the people that tell them. Ensuring more black British authors are given a voice is at the heart of our partnership with Jacaranda for their Twenty in 2020 programme. Initiatives like this are vital to our industry and we are so proud and grateful to support the Inclusive Indies fund to ensure diverse-led publishing continues.”

Hatchette has also donated £10,000 to the inclusive indies fund. The crowdfund can be accessed on the inclusive indies webpage.