DAWN MICHELLE HARDY

African American woman in her forties wearing a long-sleeve teal knit dress and hair pulled back in a ponytail with a side part, sitting on a leather sofa with hand on chin bearing a big smile.

Dawn Michelle Hardy is an award-winning book publicist and highly sought-after publishing consultant who transitioned from a fashion career to the book world by working as an author's assistant in 2002.

In 2004 she leaped into entrepreneurship and formed Dream Relations PR & Literary Consulting Agency to aid and advocate for Black writers and their books. A ‘Cool Jobs’ profile by Ebony magazine, recognized Dawn as 'the Literary Lobbyist’ for her passion in bringing the books of creatives, thought leaders and first-time authors to market with national media attention, awards and events.

Called a “powerhouse who shares industry truths” in Upscale magazine, Dawn is a frequent podcast guest and conference presenter who teaches platform building, proposal writing, and the best practices for securing a traditional book deal. She has served as a member of the NAACP Image Award Literary Committee; launched Publishing in Your Pajamas, a virtual one-day conference for emerging authors and hosts; and produces Book Banter TV, a cool interactive streaming series about writers and their books.

Some of her past author clients include: New York Times bestselling authors Clint Smith and D. Watkins; award-winning poet Khalisa Rae; sports biographers Kent Babb and Bob Lederer; podcaster Elayne Fluker; and women’s fiction authors Sadeqa Johnson, Tia Williams, and Jayne Allen.

Recently featured in Forbes Women, Dawn Michelle Hardy is celebrating her 20th year in the book publishing industry, has rebranded her agency name to The Literary Lobbyist and continues to passionately champion for BIPOC writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s books, and memoir.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR

I'm looking for nonfiction lifestyle, business, self-help books, sports biographies by best-in-class professionals with established or rapidly growing platforms on their desired book topic.

Not looking for adult fiction, but would love a cool YA novel led by BIPOC urban dwellers who step outside of their comfort zone to realize their true potential and talent. Ideally would sit on the shelf alongside Tiffany Jackson and Michelle Acevado titles.

Specializes In

NONFICTION: Cultural/Social Issues, Pop Culture, Self-Help, Sports, Women's Concerns

Considers

FICTION: Young Adult

NONFICTION: Investigative Journalism, Music, Parenting