Natasha Onwuemezi

Driving visibility and recognition for marginalised authors through monthly publishing insight

Context

As part of my role as Associate Editor at The Bookseller, I curate the Discover Preview, a monthly column spotlighting new and forthcoming titles from underrepresented authors – across fiction, non-fiction and children’s publishing. The preview helps amplify diverse voices in the book trade, particularly from independent publishers and small presses.

My role

I research, write and curate the Discover Preview each month, ensuring broad and inclusive coverage of print titles by authors from marginalised communities. I liaise with publicists, small presses, and sales data teams to ensure each preview reflects the breadth and depth of what’s being published, while maintaining high editorial standards. I also identify emerging trends in submissions and produce thoughtful commentary that is increasingly used by booksellers, editors, scouts, and publicists to inform acquisition, marketing and programming decisions across the publishing industry.

What I do

• Curate monthly round-ups focused on authors from Black, Asian and minority ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled and working-class backgrounds.
• Cover new releases across all major genres, including literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, memoir, poetry, YA and children’s.
• Prioritise small presses and independent publishers to give visibility to under-the-radar books with limited marketing reach.
• Ensure balanced and editorially sharp coverage, selecting titles based on merit, originality and publishing context.
• Spot trend in submissions and produce critical analysis and editorial framing that informs wider industry conversations.

Results

• The Discover Preview has become a key feature of The Bookseller’s editorial calendar, regularly shared across social media and cited by publishers and librarians.
• Contributed to increased visibility and review coverage for several debut and small press titles.

Takeaway

This project highlights my ability to:

• Spot underreported trends and amplify them through structured editorial formats.
• Use content as a tool for long-tail visibility and strategic discovery.
• Balance cultural context and audience needs in curated storytelling.
• Apply editorial rigour to niche, insight-driven publishing content.
• Influence decision-making and surface untapped opportunities through content-led insights.

Read a sample preview: