NEW YORK, June 21 – Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, will publish AMERICAN LIKE ME: REFLECTIONS ON LIFE BETWEEN CULTURES edited by America Ferrera on September 25, 2018, it was announced today by Jennifer Bergstrom, Publisher.

AMERICAN LIKE ME is a vibrant and varied collection of first person accounts from prominent figures about the experience of growing up between cultures in America. Curated and edited by Ferrera, the anthology will also include essays by Ferrera, sharing her own perspective of growing up the daughter of Honduran immigrants in Los Angeles. Contributors to the book will include Lin-Manuel Miranda, Roxane Gay, Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Congressman Joaquin Castro, Kal Penn, Uzo Aduba, Jenny Zhang, Michelle Kwan, Padma Lakshmi and many others.

Beloved actor, producer, and activist America Ferrera invited 31 notable actors, comedians, athletes, politicians, artists, and writers to join her in sharing their funny, sad, and profound stories of the struggle to shape identity and find a sense of belonging in a culture that often underrepresents or ignores their true, lived experiences. The contributors to AMERICAN LIKE ME are immigrants, children or grandchildren of immigrants, indigenous people, or people who otherwise grew up with deep and personal connections to more than one culture. Ranging from heartfelt to hilarious, the essays in Ferrera’s anthology will appeal to anyone with an interest in family, stories, culture, and identity.

“I can think of no better person to compile and edit these essays than America Ferrera.  Smart, worldly, politically active, and talented, America has a profound appreciation for the power of personal stories to connect people and open hearts and minds.  In these trying political times, AMERICAN LIKE ME is an important contribution to the cultural conversation.”

“I have always felt wholly American, and yet, my identity is inextricably linked to my parents’ homeland and Honduran culture,” says Ferrera. “I have yearned my whole life to see my complex cultural identity reflected in the larger American narrative. I am proud to share these personal stories that honor and reflect the experiences of so many Americans.”

America will be donating a portion of her proceeds from AMERICAN LIKE ME to the Immigrants We Get the Job Done Coalition, which includes 12 essential nonprofit organizations that provide life-changing support – legal representation, advocacy and social services – to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers throughout the United States. The Hispanic Federation serves as the coordinating body for the coalition.

America Ferrera is an award-winning actress, producer, director and activist. Ferrera is best known for her breakthrough role as “Betty Suarez” on ABC’s hit comedy, Ugly Betty, for which she won Golden Globe, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, ALMA and Imagen Awards. She produces and stars in the acclaimed NBC workplace comedy, Superstore, currently in its fourth season. In 2016 Ferrera co-founded HARNESS, an organization connecting storytellers and activists to amplify the cultural narrative around social justice. She speaks throughout the country as an advocate for human and civil rights and was the opening speaker at the monumental Women’s March on Washington in January 2017. Ferrera resides in New York and Los Angeles with her husband Ryan, their son Sebastian, and their two golden retrievers.

Alison Callahan, Vice President and Executive Editor at Gallery Books, acquired World and Audio rights from David Kuhn at Aevitas Creative Management.

GALLERY BOOKS is an imprint dedicated to publishing a variety of must-read books on a wide array of topics.  Launched in February 2010, Gallery is designed to showcase established voices and to introduce emerging new ones—in both fiction and nonfiction genres.   Some of Gallery Books’ bestselling titles include The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer, The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware, Binge by Tyler Oakley, Selp Helf by Miranda Sings, Five Presidents by Clint Hill, The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, and Love Anthony by Lisa Genova.

ABOUT SIMON & SCHUSTER

Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world’s most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Touchstone, Adams Media, Threshold Editions, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com

 

CONTACT:

Jennifer Robinson
Vice President, Director of Publicity
Gallery Books
212.698.2719
Jennifer.robinson@simonandschuster.com