Guest Post by Nisha Sharma

Nisha Sharma, pronouns she/her, is a YA and adult contemporary romance writer living in the Philly suburbs with her Alaskan husband, and a plethora of animals named after characters in literature. Her books have been included in best-of lists by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmopolitan, The Washington Post, Time Magazine and more. Before she left the corporate world, Nisha spearheaded DEI initiatives at billion dollar companies. She has continued her advocacy work by fighting for marginalized authors in publishing. When she’s not writing about people of color experiencing radical joy or teaching about inclusivity, Nisha can be found hitting the books for her PhD in English and Social Justice. You can find her online at Nisha-sharma.com or on TikTok and Instagram @nishawrites.

I’m a novelist and also a DEI subject matter expert.

These were always treated as two separate parts of my life. I went to work at a day job, then switched my mindset for writing in the evening or weekends. That’s how I always classified my career…at least in the beginning. This year, I’ll be publishing my tenth novel, MARRIAGE AND MASTI, while simultaneously celebrating over a decade of supporting corporations in workplace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. In retrospect, it wasn’t until I began to advocate for myself as an author with readers, publishers, and publicity outlets that I learned just how many workplace DE&I tools and tips supported me in publishing.

Today, I use five rules on a regular basis. I believe every author can incorporate these workplace DE&I tips to market and promote their novel.

Rule number 1: No one knows your story as well as you do.

In DE&I, it’s critical to listen to subject matter experts when it comes to identity and story. This holds true in publishing as well. It’s so easy to assume that everyone who is working on the book is an absolute expert in their field. And they are! From editors, to cover artists, to audio producers, the team that supports a book inhouse create magic. But they aren’t an expert on your story. It’s important to share your vision regarding the audience you think will resonate with your work the most. Provide input on audio narrators that may be able to do accents or tone the way that you envisioned it in your head. Share images and covers that you think capture your narrative. You don’t necessarily have to send this right up front the minute you sign your contract but having it ready to go when your publisher starts to think about the whole package can come in handy. Trust that you know yourself, the story you set out to write, and the book you produced.

Rule number 2: Model authentic behavior to connect with readers.

Authenticity is a building block of DE&I in the workplace. Leaders have to model it for teams to embrace it. Authenticity also leads to more engagement and an increase in audience trust. As authors, authenticity is critical to building long-term readership engagement. Think of your social media platforms or in-person events as a vehicle for authentic engagement. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with readership can go a long way in forming bonds with an audience that will follow you from book to book. How transparent or honest you are with readership about your thoughts and feelings is totally up to you.

Rule number 3: This is not a competition.

Many communities often believe that there is a limited number of opportunities to succeed in a chosen profession. This is a fallacy that only creates in-fighting. Many workplace DE&I initiatives actively dismantle this notion through networking events, mentorship services and community recognition programs. It’s critical to engage as an active literary citizen in publishing in a similar way. Support other authors. Celebrate the successes within your genre. Network and offer your time for workshops, or mentorship if and when you are able. The success of one creates a small ripple, but the success of many can make waves.
Rule number

4: Not everyone deserves your time.

Although this message sounds like it conflicts with the last, it is equally as important. In DE&I spaces, marginalized communities will often be tasked with educating or leading every initiative that supports inclusion in the workplace. As an author who is modeling authentic behavior, advocating for their work, and celebrating their peers, you may get requests, and sometimes demands, for your time that takes away from writing. As an author, there is nothing more important than writing the best book that you can possibly write. Setting boundaries for deadlines with your publisher, for marketing and publicity, and with your community can protect the integrity of your work.

Rule number 5: It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

DE&I executives are notoriously burned out. It’s so easy to assume that creating a diverse and inclusive space requires a few initiatives before achieving success. Sadly, that’s not the way that our world works (although I desperately wish it was!). Publishing is the same way. There is only so much you can do to promote and market yourself and your work before burning out, too. Engaging in publishing is a very, very long marathon. Remember to do what’s in your control and acknowledge that the work is almost never done. That means that you should celebrate the successes and wins along the way. It’s so hard to get published, either independently or through a traditional publishing house. That’s an accomplishment all on its own.

Embodying these rules are not easy. It takes hard work to build boundaries, model authenticity, and advocate for your career. Even after writing MARRIAGE AND MASTI, I worry if I’m doing enough or not enough. The truth I keep coming back to is that I am the best advocate for my books, and this is how I can show up for both of my careers.

Marriage & Masti by Nisha Sharma

Veera Mathur, reeling from personal and professional setbacks, finds herself lost after losing her job and seeing her friends settle down. Meanwhile, Deepak Datta faces his own turmoil when his engagement ends publicly, jeopardizing his chance to become CEO of his family’s company. Through a series of accidental events leading to a spontaneous wedding, Veera and Deepak join forces to restore their careers, only to discover their fake romance might be real after all.

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