When Broadleaf Books launched in January 2020, its mission was to create adult nonfiction that “expands the mind, nourishes the soul, and cultivates the common good” for readers and their communities. Publishing director Andrew DeYoung says, “We strive to publish timely, authentic, and inspiring books, rooted in progressive Christianity, that explore the human experience in the areas of religion, spirituality, social justice, and personal growth.”
But DeYoung couldn’t have known how very timely that taskwould become. “Our goal is that our books will inspire transformation in readers to foster a more open, just, and compassionate world,” he says. “When we named this as our mission, we had no idea how necessary books like this would be in the current global climate.”
A division of 1517 Media, Broadleaf included among its first releases of-the-moment titles like IRL: Finding Realness, Meaning, and Belonging in Our Digital Lives by Chris Stedman, who served as humanist chaplain at both Harvard and Yale Universities, and Worth It:
Overcome Your Fears and Embrace the Life You Were Meant For by Brit Barron, which delves into the complexities of modern spirituality, race, gender, and sexuality. The many challenges of the last year also helped Broadleaf advance another important goal. “As 2020, a year filled with isolation, grief, and societal unrest, raged on,” says Alison Vandenberg, Broadleaf ’s senior director of marketing and sales, “it became even more evident to us that it’s our responsibility to amplify the voices of those from diverse communities and experiences.”
To that end, their 2021 catalog includes Lenny Duncan’s memoir United States of Grace, Rev. Adam Russell Taylor’s A More Perfect Union: A New Vision for Building the Beloved Community, and The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond, a lawyer, leadership coach, activist, and senior director for global engagement for the Brené Brown Education and Research Group. “We’ve reinforced our commitment to publishing books from thought leaders and emerging voices who bring fresh perspectives to essential topics,” says Vandenberg. “And we are actively taking steps to increasingly publish diverse voices.”
Broadleaf is aiming to reach a wide and diverse audience by engaging potential customers with fresh and inspiring takes on how to live with meaning and connection. Vandenberg says that Broadleaf ’s readers, whether or not they are active in Christian communities, “share a belief that questioning, self-reflection, activism, and inclusivity can be valuable aspects of a faith journey.”
After a successful first year, DeYoung’s goal moving forward is to continue to publish books that challenge and encourage readers. The imprint has already made multi-book deals with some of their more successful writers—including Khristi Lauren Adams, author of Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color—and plans to release around 50 titles a year.
