Our Story

Bookman Express (BEx) is a family-operated publishing house established in 2011 when arts advocate Dutty Bookman encountered the challenges of publishing his first book. He formed the company as a platform for other creatives to develop their careers in professional authorship, and BEx has since been growing steadily towards a long-lasting legacy with support from his wife, Sasha. Their sons, Azibo and Gyasi (also known as The Bookboys), have also taken on meaningful responsibilities for the company, especially related to Sapling Books, our children’s book imprint established in 2020.

We are founded on the conviction that everyone has a unique story to tell and that our collective story is simply all our individual stories combined. By focusing on Caribbean, Afrocentric and other Indigenous perspectives, we intend to grow a catalog of relatable content to enhance reading culture and support a balance of representation in the world of literature. In our view, culture is the last stand, and social and personal transformation is possible through advancing stories that unlock the most creative elements inside of us.

BEx is guided by an openness to the unique ways that stories can be shared. Our approach to publishing includes working with writers, visual artists, photographers, activists, musicians, the youth and the elders to jointly develop projects. We cherish our community of collaborators who reflect values of cultural integrity and self-determination.