Black Author Publishes Her Own Work, Encourages Others to Do the Same

Ariel Sylvester self-published to maintain control over her authentic voice and stories.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Ariel Sylvester, a Black author with a doctorate in early childhood education, decided to self-publish her books to ensure her voice and stories were not altered by traditional publishers. She has since published 12 books in 7 genres under her own publishing company, Pretty Nerd Publishing, and has begun coaching other aspiring Black authors on how to self-publish their own work.

Why it matters

The publishing industry has historically lacked diversity, with only 6.1% of American authors identifying as African American and only 6.6% of publishers being Black-owned businesses. By self-publishing, Black authors like Sylvester can maintain control over their narratives and amplify authentic voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream publishing.

The details

Sylvester wanted to write stories featuring Black characters in leading roles, free from stereotypes. She has published books about Black superheroes and other diverse narratives. Through book fairs and author events, Sylvester has connected with other aspiring Black authors in Chicago and provided guidance on self-publishing. Several local authors have now published their own works, ranging from memoirs to fiction, thanks to Sylvester's mentorship.

  • Sylvester published her first book in 2021.
  • Sylvester began coaching other authors on self-publishing in 2022.

The players

Ariel Sylvester

A Black author with a doctorate in early childhood education who founded Pretty Nerd Publishing to self-publish her own work and help other aspiring Black authors do the same.

Phillip Hanks

A local author who has published a book through Sylvester's guidance.

Gregory Robinson

A local author who has published a book through Sylvester's guidance.

Mildred Givens

A local author who has published a book through Sylvester's guidance.

Octavia Simmons

An aspiring author who is writing a book about the power of Chicago's voices, inspired by Sylvester's work.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to do something different, like, Black murder mystery with a Black female character in the leading role with a lot of diversity. I believe self-publishing gave me my voice, and I get to say what I want to say instead if someone change it.”

— Ariel Sylvester, Founder, Pretty Nerd Publishing (abc7chicago.com)

“If I can change, anyone can change.”

— Gregory Robinson, Author (abc7chicago.com)

“I wrote the book to encourage individuals to take an in-depth look into their lives, because that's exactly what I did.”

— Mildred Givens, Author (abc7chicago.com)

What’s next

Sylvester plans to continue hosting book fairs and author events to connect with more aspiring Black writers and provide guidance on self-publishing. She also hopes to expand Pretty Nerd Publishing to support a growing community of Black authors taking control of their narratives.

The takeaway

By self-publishing, Black authors like Ariel Sylvester are able to maintain creative control over their work and amplify authentic voices that are often underrepresented in the traditional publishing industry. Sylvester's mentorship has empowered other local authors to share their stories on their own terms, inspiring a new generation of diverse literary voices.