I was often the little girl in the hair salon in older women’s “business.” Not necessarily their conversations, but I wanted to know what they were reading. I’d peek under the hair dryer and into their laps to find a copy of Essence magazine, the Detroit News, or a novel my mother told me I was not yet old enough to read. I knew early on the power of words to create community, to build culture, to shift the narrative and honor stories often forgotten. Now, decades later, I am still that woman hungry for the appetites of readers and helping authors and brands reach them.
Since then, I’ve gone on to wear multiple hats in the publishing world. An editor and content strategist with over a decade of editorial and writing experience. I have led in many touch-points of media today. As a literary agent at Serendipity Literary Agency, an Editor in digital media at the former Moguldom Media Group, Publications Editor at BlackGirlInOm.com, and currently an acquiring editor in book publishing at 37 Ink, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. Be it author advocacy, managing writers, creating content strategy for digital brands, or editing the next big book I know what it takes to create content that breaks through the noise.
At Simon & Schuster, I’ve worked with many award-winning, notable authors including Alice Walker, Governor Lucia McBath, Ambassador Susan Rice, National Book Award nominee Nafissa Thompson-Spires, and bestsellers Cleo Wade and Kevin Hart among others. My editorial prowess can be seen as the lead editor with the critically acclaimed Year of Dangerous Days by Nicholas Griffin, One Year of Ugly by Caroline Mackenzie, New York Times bestselling author D. Watkins’ latest title We Speak for Ourselves among others.
I move seamlessly between digital and print media, knowing that at the heart of both is strategic, reverberating content. During my time as an editor at Moguldom Media Group and more recently as the Publication Editor at BlackGirlinOm.com, I harnessed my strengths, leaning into what moves the marketplace and culture to create dynamic content that performs. In these positions, I grew brand engagement and readership across platforms. I fully understand and enjoy all angles of the publishing industry from editorial to publicity and offer consultation that will empower authors and brands to grow universally.
When not focused on growing authors and brands, one can often find me writing myself, traveling (I spent two years as an expat in Indonesia & have traveled to Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana and Dubai), trying to become a vegan (for the second time) and buying all of the plants. Or, attending panels and conferences to speak on publishing, finding one’s voice on the page, editing and more. Most recently at the Kweli Journal International Literary Festival, Atlanta Writers’ Conference, Dream Leapers Publishing Panel, and WEEN among others.
We do language/That may be the measure of our lives. - Toni Morrison
I received my Master’s in Print and Digital media with an emphasis in book and digital publishing at New York University. At NYU, I studied under senior editors and Vice President’s from Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Rodale Inc., HarperCollins Publishers, InStyle Magazine, Oprah Magazine and many other top publishing houses and media companies. Prior to my NYC career in publishing, I worked as a features reporter and managing editor for a weekly magazine in Michigan where I received my B.A. in Journalism/Africana studies. I’m a Detroit native and Brooklyn dweller who’s still sticking her nose into the beauty salon to see what you’re reading.