If I Ruled the World: A Novel

Set in 1999, this debut novel follows Nikki Rose, the only Black editor at a prestigious fashion magazine. After being repeatedly told that "Black girls don't sell magazines," she leaves to take over Sugar, a struggling hip-hop music and lifestyle magazine with potential. Nikki has six months to save the magazine and her career ambitions. She navigates a world of wealth and excess while working long hours and socializing with influential figures in New York City. Her greatest obstacle is Alonzo Griffin, her married ex-lover and former boss, who seeks to destroy both her and Sugar. With support from close friends, Nikki pursues unexpected romances while determining what she truly wants. The novel explores ambition, friendship, love, and self-discovery against the backdrop of late 1990s pop culture and the hip-hop and magazine industries.