Crown Publishing Unveils Storehouse Voices: A New Imprint Championing Black Storytelling

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Tamira Chapman will lead the imprint as publisher, bringing her experience as CEO of Storehouse In A Box and her history of collaboration with Penguin Random House (PRH) on virtual events featuring renowned authors like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Michelle Obama, and Amanda Gorman.

Joining Chapman in shaping the imprint’s vision is Porscha Burke, who will step into the role of associate publisher. Burke, formerly the senior editor and director of DEI strategy for the Crown and Random House Publishing Groups, has been instrumental in championing diverse narratives.

Additionally, Jennifer Baker has been appointed as editorial director, starting February 10. With a background in advocacy and publishing, Baker was most recently a senior program manager at Narrative Initiative. Chelcee Johns, who previously served as senior editor at Ballantine, will join as executive editor beginning February 3.

Storehouse Voices is built on an incubator model inspired by PRH’s Women & Words initiative, which provided workshops and networking opportunities for underrepresented authors. Notably, five authors from Women & Words have already secured book deals with the new imprint. Among the first releases under Storehouse Voices will be Everything I Know (I Learned from a Woman) by playwright and filmmaker David E. Talbert, as well as Freedom to Be Fearless by author and entrepreneur Arian Simone.

Chapman expressed her excitement about the imprint’s mission, stating, “We’re creating a home for Black voices and celebrating the richness of diverse storytelling. I’m deeply grateful to the tens of thousands of Black women whose passion and dedication to excellence in literature made this moment possible, and to David Drake, Porscha Burke, and Penguin Random House for their leadership and belief in the importance of amplifying Black voices. Diverse authors have a home here, and we call on the brightest talent in publishing to join us in reshaping the narrative.”

With Storehouse Voices, Crown Publishing aims to not only amplify Black authors but also create a lasting impact on the literary landscape, ensuring that diverse voices are heard, celebrated, and widely read.

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