Over the past two years, many industries in America have been called to answer for their lack of diversity. The most glaring is publishing. A 2019 survey found that only 5% of roles in publishing—staff, reviewers, and agents—are Black. Dawn Michelle Hardy has been working to shift the conversation.
From working as a publicist with Serendipity Literary Agency to building her own brand as The Literary Lobbyist, Hardy has spent her career consistently helping Black authors create massive success, from book deals and partnerships to speaking engagements. Her book publicity and marketing methods are shaped by her time in fashion, including experiential and lifestyle-centered approaches.
“There is a market for this. You’re just not tapped into it. And because you’re not tapped into it, you believe that it doesn’t exist. You’re passing up an opportunity to help somebody launch or grow their career simply because you don’t understand how their culture works,” Hardy said. “If you haven’t given any thought to your platform and audience, then how is anybody going to buy the book? It’s basically saying you’re ready to give a presentation, but you haven’t actually opened the auditorium, and there’s no one in the seats. A platform is basically filling the auditorium before you get to the stage,” Hardy said.
Hardy advised Black authors to know their worth and advocate for themselves. She suggested that writers connect with published authors to learn about their experiences and deals to understand what they should expect to be paid. Hardy cited the hashtag #PublishingPaidMe that sparked an important conversation on Twitter about book advances and noted that these kinds of transparent discussions empower authors to negotiate better deals.
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