Hachette Book Group Sponsors Second Annual “Latinx Storytellers Conference,” Featuring Best-Selling Authors and Publishing Leaders

Pulitzer Prize Finalist and Guggenheim Fellow Luis Alberto Urrea to Give Keynote Address; Award-Winning Writers and Illustrators Veronica Chambers, Silvia López, Alyssa Reynoso-Morris, Edel Rodriguez, and Eric Velasquez Will Attend as Panelists and Sign Books

NEW YORK (August 27, 2025) — Hachette Book Group (HBG) announced today its continued support of the Latinx Kidlit Book Festival (LKBF) and sponsorship of the second annual LKBF Latinx Storytellers Conference September 12-13, 2025, in New York City. This year’s event will kick off Latine and Hispanic Heritage Month and represents the largest in-person, international gathering of Latine writers, illustrators, editors, literary agents, and publishers of children and adult books.

Over the course of two days, Latine storytellers will gather to enjoy community, craft masterclasses, professional development sessions, and gain access to hard-to-reach industry professionals. All proceeds from the conference benefit the LKBF, now celebrating its fifth year, and programs such as its virtual book festival, school visits, book donations, educator outreach, and advocacy for Latine-authored children’s books in schools and libraries everywhere.

Literary icons will give the keynote addresses, including Luis Alberto Urrea, a critically acclaimed, bestselling HBG author of The Devil’s Highway: A True Story (Back Bay Books) and 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction. The author of 17 books—including Good Night, Irene and The House of Broken Angels, Urrea is a Guggenheim fellow and Latino Literature Hall of Fame member who was born in Tijuana to a Mexican father and American mother. “I am more interested in bridges, not borders,” he says.

Esteemed HBG authors and illustrators will join a wide range of speakers—from publishers and editors to marketers and literary agents—including Veronica Chambers (Ida, in Love and in Trouble, LBYR), Silvia López (Uno Más, One More, Christy Ottaviano Books), Alyssa Reynoso-Morris (Gloriana Presente, Christy Ottaviano Books), Edel Rodriguez (Float Like a Butterfly, LBYR), Eric Velasquez (Ruth Objects, LBYR), as well as other award-winning and best-selling Latine talent. HBG’s Julie Hernandez, Executive Director, Trade Wholesale, Library and Academic Marketing; and Amina Iro, Associate Editor, Legacy Lit, will also serve on conference panels during the 48-hour publishing intensive.

On Friday, September 12, HBG will host a “Publisher & Literary Agency Visit” in its Midtown office for 25 conference attendees, offering lunch and an exclusive, insider’s look at the submissions, acquisitions and publication process. Later that day, the conference will host an event in collaboration with Latinx in Publishing that focuses on how to advocate for Latine stories, followed by a networking event. On Saturday, September 13, all HBG authors and illustrators in attendance will join a book signing hosted by the conference’s official bookseller, The Bronx is Reading.

“We were honored to support the LKBF’s inaugural Latinx Storytellers Conference last year, when nearly half of attendees reported that it was the first publishing conference they had ever attended,” said Sara Munjack, HBG’s Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. “We’re proud to continue our support in 2025 to help more Latine writers and illustrators become successfully published storytellers—a manifestation of our mission to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, learning, entertainment, and opportunity.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Hachette Book Group as a returning partner for the 2025 Latinx Storytellers Conference,” said Mayra Cuevas, who co-founded the conference with Alex Villasante and serves on its 2025 organizing committee. “We remain steadfast in the goal of bringing the stories of our community to readers, booksellers and educators everywhere. Our partnership with Hachette is integral to making this goal a reality. Together, we are opening access, upleveling craft, and promoting meaningful connections. We are creating an environment that will nourish each storyteller’s potential and help launch their publishing career.”

About Hachette Book Group:

Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading US general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group; Grand Central Publishing Group; Hachette Audio; Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Orbit; Workman Publishing; and Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to other publishing companies. 

Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize and other major honors. We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher. 

Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about HBG imprints. For updated news follow HBG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X.com, Pinterest, and YouTube.

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Press Contact: Gabrielle.Gambrell@hbgusa.com