About Us
Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers (AHLP) is a small independent publishing company in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, that was founded in 1996 by Carolyn C. Williams, Publisher-Executive Editor. It remains privately-owned under her direction and benefits from her comprehensive experience as a researcher, author, editor, technical editor, graphic designer, and manager.
Poised for continued growth in 2008 and beyond, AHLP delivers high quality publications. In every phase the company makes a bold statement regarding its commitment to publishing excellence.
History
AHLP's initial offerings were nonfiction books written by academic and independent scholars for an adult audience. Most authors were university or college professors completing the process to achieve tenure or a promotion. Independent scholars, including an African studies researcher, a local historian, and a lawyer, also penned titles featuring expertise within their area of work.
Working with scholarly writers brought AHLP early success. Dedicated to Music, the first work was celebrated when the Smithsonian included a profile of co-author Henrietta Fuller Robinson in the exhibit "300 Years of the Piano." American Democracy in Africa in the Twenty-First Century? and United States Policy Towards Liberia, 1822-2003: Unintended Consequences? reached the hands of U.S. policymakers. Favorable reviews garnered important speaking engagements and presentations for the authors that have fostered discussion on U.S. Africa policy, in particular.
Our great graphic design and photography resulted from small business-to-small business partnerships. Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers staff and a contractor, Omega Group Concepts III, jointly comprise AHLP's Art and Photography Department. Our principal designer is Brian Lancaster of Omega, along with Lionel Archer and Ronald Moore of Omega, and Carolyn C. Williams of AHLP (under her design hat). Regarding our photography, we arranged local photo shoots and purchased photographs from photographers nationwide. From the start of AHLP's entry into publishing, compliments on our book covers and illustrations have been numerous from all quarters—authors, reviewers, and readers.
AHLP publishing model
AHLP has expanded its publishing program and has five imprints. Each imprint classifies a title by literary genre and target reading audience.
- Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers—scholarly nonfiction and literary fiction in three series: African American and Canadian Series; Africa and Caribbean Series; Literary Fiction, Folklore, and Poetry Series
- Oyinde Publishing—novellas and romance novels, poetry, inspirational writing, and self-help for a general readership
- AHLP Books—autobiography and biography for a general readership
- AHLP Communications—technical books on writing, communications, and information technology
- soon-to-be-named imprint for juvenile and children's literature.
Literary contests and journal
In 2004 AHLP launched two literary contests for emerging writers and poets and published winning entries in the first volume of Visions of Black Life: A Collection of Outstanding Short Fiction and Poetry (ISSN 1556-2190). This endeavor has proven popular and also meets our goal of engaging in community service. Volume 3 of Visions of Black Life is in full color and the first volume with a supplement, feature articles, book reviews, and a photoessay.
Advancing technology and becoming "Green"
Technology advancements enhance AHLP's publishing strategies and helps the company compete on par with corporate publishers. Committed to becoming "Green," AHLP also has signed the publishing industry Treatise on Responsible Paper Use and will create other policies to assure we help protect the environment.
Commitment to copyright protection
Throughout the AHLP Web site, Educational advertisements from the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) signal that Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers will protect the rights to its published titles. AHLP has contracted with the Copyright Clearance Center to administer our rights program. Any educator, academic institution, library, small business, corporation, or government that uses excerpts of AHLP titles must pay royalties and licensing fees.
Several academic uses fall into this category:
- coursepacks
- classroom handouts
- library reserves
- interlibrary loan
- e-reserves
- e-coursepacks
- distance learning
Possible uses by business and government in the U.S. and all international uses are varied:
- photocopying for commercial document delivery, corporate information services, etc.
- e-mail
- intranets
- internets
- extranets
- multimedia presentations, including MS PowerPoint™
- photocopies
- CD-ROM/DVD
- books, newsletters, and other publications
- works in foreign countries
Publisher-Executive Editor's final note
Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers has built a multi-faceted partnership with academicians, independent scholars, creative writers, and poets. With projects in the U.S., Europe, and Africa, AHLP has succeeded garnering a niche in the global economy. AHLP remains proud of its strong commitment to produce books that are invaluable in the classroom, informative to policymakers, and entertaining to readers of all ages.
Readers and authors may receive AHLP's newsletter, launched in February 2008, with the latest press news and promotions. The "join our mailing list" link on the home page takes you to the subscription sign-up page.
On behalf of AHLP's editors and design and production staff, I thank you for visiting us. Keep buying our books and read, read, and read some more!
—Carolyn C. Williams, February 2008.
© Africana Homestead Legacy Publishers February 2008. All rights reserved.
Last revised 17 February 2008.
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