PANSY: A BLACK AMERICAN MEMOIR

BY JASPER JOYNER

The Basics

Hey, y'all! We're all gathered here today to talk about a nonfiction work I'm quite proud of and hope to share with you all next October 2024: PANSY.

LOGLINE: PANSY is the BUT I’M A CHEERLEADER meets MOONLIGHT of messy, heartfelt, Black trans-led memoirs.

SUMMARY: PANSY follows Black, trans southern writer Jasper as they fumble through an awkward Memphis upbringing in the 90s and early aughts, an insufferable Nashville PWI, and finally, a pretty wild NYC queer awakening in this non-linear, episodic memoir that combines poetry, cultural criticism, and essays.

QUICK PITCH: PANSY is a comedic nonfiction story. It has high school messiness, sibling rivalry, writer-life drama, trans issues, poetry, queer sex parties...The works. But it's also clever and deep. As an avid reader of feminist theory, I've learned the best way to address heavy concepts is with vulnerability (see: the personal is political), while still being accessible to those unfamiliar with academic language.

The main plot explores a learning disability and navigating Black exceptionalism, but the layers of this book touch on several other cultural themes without feeling chaotic.

Most of all, though, PANSY has heart. It means the world to me that we see more joyful Black trans stories. I’ve committed my entire career to this idea, and it will always be my mission to make sure we’re seen laughing out loud.

The manuscript for PANSY is complete.

READ THE INTRO TO PANSY HERE...

The Why

I must admit to you all, the prestige of traditional publishing once glistened like a gem under summer sun, in my eyes.

And I say "once" as if this time is far behind me. It ain't. Since February of this year I've implored various literary agents around the US to find enough capitalistic worth in my memoir to open The Proverbial Gates (™).

Several of these agents have taken the time to reach out to me. To rave about the "striking voice" in PANSY. The "exceptional talent" prevalent from jump. Yet their most frequent overall response is, "I don't know if I can/want to sell it."

I have had a wildly independent writing career for the past decade. Yet every few years I try my damndest to fit into a traditional mold. I fail every time.

I'm in awe of career indie artists steeped in community. In anticapitalist approaches to sharing creative works. If asked what I'd like my artistic legacy to look like, it'd look like those independent artists I admire. I must finally stand firmly in this truth.

Creative freedom is a gift. It is a blessing to lead in the telling of your own story. So I am no longer interested in searching for keys or open doors. I'm already right where I need to be.

I believe in PANSY more than anything I've ever written. It's fun. Full of love. Profound. As an avid reader, and a writer with many an early mediocre work on my road to creative evolution (!), I feel very confident in saying this.

I WANT TO SHARE PANSY ON MY OWN TERMS: 

• To release this book on my own timeline
• To offer free and sliding scale options for folks unable to afford it (beyond libraries, though this will be included)
• To go on a majority Black-owned bookstore tour
• To build community and assist other similar existing and upcoming works in ways that are enriching to all involved (discords and local meetups, etc. possibilities are endless)

I do not feel I could make much of this happen through traditional publishing.
So here we are. Let's do it together.

About the author

Jasper "Jaz" Joyner (they/them) is an essayist, poet, author, and humorist born and living in Memphis, TN. Their work has been featured in Teen Vogue, The Offing, Oldster Mag, Huffington Post, anthology book OUTSIDE THE XY, and many others. Jasper currently runs two awesome newsletters—one self-titled, with the hopes of bringing biweekly whimsy to people's inboxes, and the other called HERE TO COMPLAIN, where annoyed Black and PoC folks share their microaggressive work stories. They also mentor at the Sam & Devorah Trans Youth Project. Jasper's debut chapbook, A FLAMBOYANCE, is out now with Bottlecap Press, and their YA fantasy novel, JUNIPER LEAVES, is available where books are sold. 

Budget

About 16K is the flexible budget for PANSY. 

All service donations (gratis editors, photographer, etc.) will be deducted from the overall budget and used for (1) PANSY marketing, (2) donations to Black queer and trans funds and individuals in need.

• up to $5000 - Developmental Editor
• up to $3000 - Copy/Line Editor
• up to $2000 - Cover art/graphic design
• $2500 - Marketing for PANSY (ads, paid marketing accounts, mini book tour, etc.)
• $1500 - PANSY copies, merch to sell, etc.
• $750 - Award submissions (through 2025)
• $500 - Book formatter and publishing assistance
• $500 - Author headshots
• $250 - Recording equipment for audiobook 
• Indiegogo fee (5% of total raised)

Non-financial Ways You Can Help...

If you have the wealth of time or energy, special skills, or connection to large communities, feel free to support PANSY in ways like these: 

USEFUL SERVICES
All service donors will be offered book credit. If not donating your services, either payment directly from this fundraiser, if raised, or a portion of book sales up to the conventional cost of your services will be offered. Details to be discussed. 

• Editors, especially copy and line editors, with the bandwidth and financial ability to help out.
• Publicist willing to offer advice or assistance.
• Photographer for the author headshot.
• Book reviewers willing to read PANSY early. 
• Writers: Reach out to feature PANSY or myself on your publication/newsletters.
• Marketing experts for roll out of book.
• Graphic designers for cover art
• Book formatters familiar with indie publishing sites.

GENERAL SUPPORT

• Offer used or unwanted recording equipment.
• Share this campaign on social media! Link the intro to PANSY, or quote excerpts from it, if you like.
• TikTok heads: I need your help! Post, share, show me how to use the app. 
• Tell your friends about the cause, in in-person conversation.
• Post about PANSY in your blog, newsletter or publication!
• Read and share my other work.
  (I recommend starting with this essay I wrote about my late-great dad, whose face I share.) 
• Follow my newsletter for book and pre-order updates + and other excerpts from PANSY.
• Any other ways you can think of helping out, feel free to hit me up (email in website listed below). 

The Impact

I hope that the release of PANSY will:

• Honor Black queer writers who’ve come before me.
  (Langston Hughes, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, Alice Walker, etc.) 
• Pay reverence to My Ancestors who were unable to share their stories in tangible ways.
• Offer a resource for young queer, GNC, and trans folks (good for teens and beyond).
• Join the decades-long tradition of Black southern storytelling.
  (Alice Walker, Kiese Laymon, Michael Arceneaux, etc.)
• Promote reading and literacy for folks who want to/wish they could read more.
• Be a resource to pro-Black, pro-queer accomplices + parents of trans and queer kids.
• Offer free memoir-writing workshops to elders and young folks in tradition with Alice Walker and southern writers like her.
• Be a catalyst to a decades-long writing career rooted in community, love, and anticapitalism. I have many more creative projects in the works (fantasy junt, up next)!

Risks & Challenges

I've been here before. Back in 2017, I released my debut YA fantasy novel JUNIPER LEAVES after a years-long publishing struggle featuring an extremely stressful Kickstarter campaign.

In fact, the making of that novel inspired one of the central plot points in PANSY.

I'm proud to have learned to write a book by writing one. I'm grateful to have completed what I started and beyond appreciative of its supporters who made it all possible. However, I cannot say I'm super happy with the final product, or its roll out. 

I've avoided self-publishing since. Still, all roads keep leading me right back here.

I've learned a lot since 2017. I understand what works, what doesn't. How to avoid the same formatting mistakes that caused me the most stress then. I am excited to do things differently this time in a way that is healing, proactive and good.