Dear readers,

I’m thrilled to welcome into the Restless Books family two extraordinary people:

Benjamin Samuel is our new Managing Editor. He comes to Restless Books from the National Book Foundation, where he was Director of Programs. Previously, he was an Editor at Electric Literature, where he co-founded their weekly fiction magazine, Recommended Reading. Benjamin volunteers with the Brooklyn Book Festival, where he serves on its Literary Council and its Fiction Committee. He has an MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College, and his writing has been published in McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Publishers Weekly, Men's Journal, and elsewhere. "Especially at a time when our president is building walls, alienating neighbors, and attacking allies,” Ben believes, “the work of independent, international publishers like Restless Books is vital. With the support of readers and donors, we can amplify voices that would otherwise be silenced and ensure that our humanity, culture, and values are shared across borders."

Alicia López is our new Editorial Assistant. She grew up in Costa Rica, and is joining Restless Books after graduating with a BA in English and Art from Amherst College, where she also received an award for excellence in writing and collaborated with the literary journal The Common. She is particularly thrilled at the prospect of making Central American literature available to an English-speaking readership. “Adhering to a concept of ‘national’ or ‘publishable’ literature,” she thinks, “is to turn books into narrow, nativistic territories. Translation celebrates varied world views and new means of literary expression. By rejecting literature in translation, mainstream publishing is closing itself off to enriching, cross-cultural exchanges of ideas.”

Ben and Alicia will help us enhance the quality of excellence in all our publications. Bienvenidos!

Ilan Stavans

Publisher of Restless Books