In 2015, I had to choose whether to focus on developing my marketing or my publicity career. I joined the Hachette Nashville publicity team when I realized that nothing compared to the satisfaction that I felt when interfacing with all kinds of people while building a successful publicity campaign. I realized how fulfilling it was to wear the many “hats” that publicists do: editorial (press materials), marketing (social/bookseller component), and might I say—on occasion—crisis management? As I found my footing at Hachette, my gonzo publicity for Crisis of Character resulted in Center Street’s #1 debut on the nonfiction New York Times bestseller list, where it remained for twelve consecutive weeks. Crisis of Character won corporate recognition for selling an enormous amount copies within an unprecedented amount of time. It was an incredible learning experience, but I soon adjusted my focus to champion more commercial/mainstream titles and uprooted to New York to solidify media relationships I had already cultivated from afar.

Before I left Nashville, I publicized Gretchen Carlson’s thought-provoking Be Fierce. One of my favorite media highlights from her national tour was filming an interview from the bathroom of Refinery 29, with the idea that women tend to confide in each other and support each other during group bathroom trips. It was at the height of the #metoo movement, right after Harvey Weinstein allegations became public, and it struck a nerve with the young women who viewed that video, as the unusual location gave a singular and confessional quality to Gretchen’s words about workplace harassment. The engagement was palpable during the live stream, and Carlson’s debut went on to become a New York Times bestseller. More importantly, it helped empower other women to speak out amid a critical cultural moment.

In recent years, I’ve had the opportunity to work on compelling memoirs like Julie Andrews’ New York Times bestselling memoir Home Work and Proud, by the first Muslim-American woman fencer to compete and win an Olympic medal in hijab, Ibtihaj Muhammad. In many campaigns, I worked alongside Mattel, Netflix, Nike, Broadway Cares, Dollar General, Microsoft, Google, and other major corporations to harness the power of synergy and cross-pollinate publicity efforts. I’ve also cross promoted international releases with global partners such as Hachette UK, Canada, Australia, and more.

My panoply of successes range from managing Governor Chris Christie’s massive media rollout for his highly-embargoed political zeitgeist (Let Me Finish), to breaking out the New York Times bestselling debut book, Billion Dollar Whale by WSJ investigative reporters Bradley Hope & Tom Wright (film rights acquired by CRAZY RICH ASIANS’ own Michelle Yaoh) and during that tour, partnering to fight the subject’s attempts at global censorship. I enjoy the challenge of crafting strategic messaging on sensitive projects and in response to fast breaking news.

But the best feeling in the world is finally confirming a tough-to-secure booking, or reaching a new audience through targeted coverage for an author’s book.