The Story of Inked
Raw, Authentic Storytelling
With a lifelong passion for helping others, I started my career as a social worker. For many years, I worked with transient, gang-affiliated, and displaced youth. These individuals had few, if any, options for help. Understanding was rare, empathy scarcer still. I loved what I did, but the things that I saw, and the stories that I heard broke my heart. No story was the same, yet they all had one thing in common: their struggles were misrepresented.
What we see in the media is an incomplete picture of the world around us. It furthers distorts stereotypes, promotes prejudice, and builds barriers between communities.
Inked in Gray seeks to change that.
We can dispel stereotypes with insight, combat prejudice with perspective, and narrow the divide so we can see each other for what we all are: human.
Imperfect, complicated, and authentic.
My dream is to provide a platform for stories that explore those aspects of our humanity and give a voice to divergent and underrepresented authors. No sugar-coating, no watered down characters or situations. No punches pulled.
Words have the power to illicit change. They are outlets for us to express ourselves. Words give us refuge.
Words also build communities, dissolve stereotypes, and promote empathy and understanding. That’s the magic of storytelling. With Inked, I want to give a voice to the misrepresented and provide stories that don’t just entertain, but also promote change and understanding. Voices should not be unheard because they are not what we expect.
Inked was created for you—for us—to help mend a world that’s always been a little bit broken.
Our Mission
Give voice previously-excluded authors and creators and highlight works that expose the depths of our humanity and its imperfections.
Our Vision
To change our world, we must make room for the marginalized, the oppressed, the outcast, the misfits, and the morally ambiguous and immerse ourselves in worlds unlike our own.
Our Partners
Inked is partnered with WriteHive, a non-profit that provides free, inclusive events, programs, and resources for writers of all backgrounds. We also love Indie Story Geek, a resource for readers looking for indie and small press books, with a reliable and unique review system.