Shaherazad Shelves is the first Muslim-owned, Muslim-serving fiction publisher in the United States. Founded in 2021, we are a New York-based book publisher created by two sisters aiming to diversify bookshelves all over the world. The route to publishing a book through traditional means (querying literary agents) is arduous, especially so for low-income, immigrant, or religious minorities who have limited knowledge of the industry. Agents and editors often reject works they "don't connect" with—limiting the representation of lifestyles experienced by underrepresented groups—unless it fits a specific, commercial narrative. Shaherazad Shelves dismantles that barrier. Writers who belong to a Global Majority ethnic group or are without literary representation can submit to our editorial team, who understand that a faithful story is pivotal to success, not the time or money to have a polished query or manuscript, a specific word count, or connections in high places.

Shaherazad Shelves

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