"Being An Ethnic Writer" by A. S. Maulucci
Being a member of an ethnic minority that does not fit the paradigm of multiculturalism in America adds another dimension to the struggle to be published and recognized. My decision to become an independently published author was influenced mostly by the need for artistic freedom and it is only after publishing three books that I have realized how dangerous it is to openly declare oneself an Italian American writer devoted to countering the stereotypes with stories about the real Italian American experience. In a sense, I am a re-born writer in that I have found my voice and my material in my cultural heritage. This has been a truly liberating experience. I need no longer struggle to belong to the mainstream culture — I can openly declare and celebrate my uniqueness in my marginality. I am not from the mainstream, I am from the margin, and there lies my strength, my unique perspective, my distinctive vantage point. However, in order to write this way I must also be willing to publish my own work and, eventually, the work of other Italian American authors.
In addition, I came of age in the 1960's and was deeply influenced by the arts counterculture and the grass roots political movements for world peace and civil rights. After many years of struggling to adjust to the cynical persona I had adopted as a professional writer for the mass media, I realized this was not who I really was — I was a romanitc and an idealist and I would never belong in that world. After leaving New York, I then experienced a resurgence of faith in Chrisitanity and in the philosophy of my most formative years: live simply, be as self-sufficient as possible, avoid commercialism and consumerism, remain true to your artistic principles, and circumvent the corporate powers-that-be whenever possible. Therefore, I prefer to deal directly with my readers and have chosen to be an independent publisher in order to facilitate this process.
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