ABOUT US

Shaherazad Shelves is a New York-based publishing house founded by two Muslim sisters aiming to diversify bookshelves all over the world. The route to publishing a book through traditional means (querying literary agents) is long and arduous, especially so for low-income, immigrant, or religious minorities who have limited knowledge of the industry. All too often, agents put down works they "don't connect" with—effectively limiting the representation of lifestyles experienced by underrepresented groups—unless it fits a specific, commercial narrative. Shaherazad Shelves aims to close that gap. Writers who belong to Global Majority ethnic groups or are without literary representation can submit to us directly during our open query periods. Your story will be sent to editors who understand not everyone has the time or money to have a polished query or manuscript, a specific word count, or the connections to be seen.

Shaherazad Shelves currently has two imprints, Shush Books and Sorra Books, and we strive to be a source of quality Muslim fiction for the masses and a stepping stone into the world of publishing for all others. In addition, we also grant the SALAM award to authors who we have not published.