About the Founder

MEET KATRINELL M. DAVIS, PhD

FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

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From Advocacy to Literature: Building Bridges Through Stories

What started as a mission to support caregivers has evolved into something much larger—a full-scale independent publishing house that amplifies the voices gatekeepers overlook.

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The Vision Behind Pivot Press Books

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I founded Pivot Press Books because I saw too many powerful stories—including my own and my daughter Kaitlyn's—trapped on hard drives, waiting for permission from an industry that didn’t see us clearly. I benefit from and cherish a legacy of Black literature that has always spoken truth, pushed boundaries, and shaped culture. But even within that tradition, I recognized gaps—spaces where our everyday, complex, deeply human stories still weren’t being championed.

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After years of work in resilience research and caregiver advocacy, I realized it was time to pivot. To stop waiting. To build a space that values bold storytelling, expressive truth, and the fullness of Black life across the diaspora.

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Beyond Publishing: A Connected Ecosystem

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Pivot Press Books is the literary arm of a broader vision that includes:

• Community-building initiatives that connect readers, writers, and care networks

• Caregiver advocacy and education through our upcoming Caregiver Institute

• Research and learning tools for professionals and educators serving underserved communities 

​Our Catalog Reflects Our Values 

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From children's books to urban fiction that challenge conventions, from caregiver guides to essays on collective memory—every title we publish serves our mission of representation, education, and transformation.

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The Sankofa Principle in Action

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Like the Sankofa bird that looks back to move forward, Pivot Press Books honors the wisdom of our past while nurturing new voices. We practice "each one teach one"—every story published becomes a lesson shared, every author lifted becomes a bridge for others.

​Building the Legacy

We are accepting open submissions and launching our Pivot Voices Salon series. This is about creating a literary legacy that doesn't wait for permission.

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