Newsletters

Our Work Is Not Done Yet

As we mark the milestone of publishing our very first title—a milestone like no other, one that can never be repeated again—we want to take this moment to thank all of our supporters for helping make Betty what it is today. Take Me With You Next Time, by Janis Hubschman, couldn't have happened without every single person involved in the endeavor. Thank you!As we start looking toward the new year and what spectacular advances, events, and publications are in store for Betty, we want to take a min...

The Making Of TAKE ME WITH YOU NEXT TIME

We’re just under two weeks away from the release of our debut title, Take Me With You Next Time by Janis Hubschman—a compelling collection of twelve stories that delve into the lives of women and girls confronting all kinds of trouble. If you’re eager for a sneak peak, check out an excerpt in Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading magazine. For more insights into Take Me With You Next Time, don’t miss our exclusive Q&A with author Janis Hubschman below.

We’re just under two weeks away from t...

Peek Into TAKE ME WITH YOU NEXT TIME

We are just a few weeks away from the release of our inaugural Betty title—Take Me With You Next Time by Janis Hubschman, out on October 15. Words can hardly express how proud we are of Hubschman and this incredible achievement, and how grateful we are to our Betty authors and supporters who made this possible. In just a month, we’ll be celebrating this exciting moment together, via our virtual book launch on October 27, 2024, at 5 p.m. Pacific time. You can find the link to register for the eve...

Betty Book Launch: Take Me With You Next Time by Janis Hubschman

Janis Hubschman in conversation with Lori Ostlund

Janis Hubschman in conversation with Lori Ostlund

Join us October 27, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time, to celebrate the launch of our inaugural Betty title, Take Me With You Next Time by Janis Hubschman. The virtual event will feature a short reading by author Hubschmann, followed by a conversation led by acclaimed author Lori Ostlund, and an audience Q&A. Join these two literary talents in celebrating this spectacular new release.

The virtual...

Before ‘Violent Spring’

The deluxe edition of the California Book Club’s November selection, Gary Phillips’s Violent Spring, was published 30 years after the first printing. In a foreword, the author writes, “While there has been significant change, too many of the underlying factors setting off the unrest in ’92 remain.” This powerful sentence sets the tone for the novel and signals the issues it will explore—race, equality, police brutality, and media representation.Media representation is a theme central to the expe...

Spotlight on a Literary Venture: Betty

Betty Books is an energized, synergistic collective. We work with each other, for each other.” This is how Haley Hach—author of a forthcoming collection of short stories spotlighting women in rural America, When We’re Ready—describes publisher WTAW Press’s new imprint, Betty (known on social media as Betty Books).Named after WTAW publisher Peg Alford Pursell’s mother—a literary enthusiast who began to value her autonomy later in life—the imprint was born in May 2023. WTAW sought to promote and e...

Running with Coyotes

I ’ve never seen a coyote. I’ve seen more people called coyotes than animals,” a nine-year-old Javier Zamora thinks when he happens upon a rotting coyote carcass in the California Book Club’s June selection, Solito. After excruciating days of battling thirst and weariness in the dry desert heat, Zamora, known as Chepito, and his fellow migrants from El Salvador, referred to in the book as the Six, stumble upon the wild canine, the animal from which migrant smugglers derive their name. Although s...

Tracing Desert Trails

Laila Lalami has a way with words. Not only is she able to bring a varied cast of characters to life, but she is also able to make readers feel at home in the setting of this month’s California Book Club pick, The Other Americans. By using absorbing imagery and vernacular language common to Southern California, she immerses readers in Victorville, San Bernardino, Yucca Valley, and Joshua Tree.Throughout the novel, her fondness for the region is palpable. She describes the area as heavenlike, det...

Betty's Published Titles: 1

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the virtual book launch of Take Me With You Next Time by Janis Hubschman, Betty’s debut title!It was an incredible evening celebrating Janis’s powerful collection of short stories, filled with resilient characters who tackle life’s toughest moments. Special thanks to our guest Lori Ostlund, whose insightful conversation with Janis gave us a deeper look at the art of writing and the themes of perseverance, humor, and emotional complexity that Janis explores...

Belonging and Citizenship

As summer fades into fall, change becomes a central theme in our lives. From the simple act of leaves turning orange and red to a more profound personal transformation, this season invites reflection on future plans and goals that can be set into motion. For many, these changes center around citizenship. Citizenship is a loaded word. It’s the promise of opportunity, stability, equality, and belonging for everyone—and it attracts people to the U.S. from all corners of the world. Yet, we can’t dis...

Betty’s Giving Season Call

As the season of giving thanks begins, we want to take a moment to express our deep appreciation for your support of Betty. All of your contributions are the foundation of our mission: to create a lasting, supportive community that amplifies literary voices that might otherwise go unheard.With that in mind, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our subscription program with WTAW! Starting today through January 15, you can choose from several subscription packages featuring incredible titles...