Amy Dubois Barnett Books In Order

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Amy DuBois Barnett

Amy DuBois Barnett has built a career in American media. She is a magazine editor with a long list of achievements in the industry. For example, Barnett served as the editorinchief of Ebony magazine. She also held the same top role at Honey and Teen People. Before those positions, she worked as the deputy editor of Harper’s Bazaar. Her work in magazines is notable because she became the first African American woman to lead a major mainstream publication in the country.

Beyond her editing work, Barnett is also an author of fiction. She has written several short stories that have been published over the years. Her skills as a writer show in how she builds her characters. She creates protagonists that feel real and keep people turning pages. Readers find her stories entertaining because of this talent. The way she shapes a narrative makes the experience enjoyable and hard to put down. Her writing connects with an audience looking for a good story.

In 2008, she published a book aimed at women titled Get Yours! How to Have Everything You Ever Dreamed of and More. It was released through Random House. The book was an advice guide and received attention from the NAACP Image Awards, earning a nomination. This project showed another side of her writing ability. She can move between fiction and practical guidance with ease. Her career shows a person who knows how to communicate with different readers in a direct and engaging way.

There is a genuine quality to the way Amy DuBois Barnett writes that readers tend to pick up on right away. She is not trying to mimic a popular style or follow a trend. Instead, the stories come from her own experiences and her own way of seeing the world. Because of that, the work feels grounded and real, which makes it easier for people to settle into the narrative and just enjoy the ride.

Looking ahead, there is a sense that Barnett still has plenty more to offer. Her career so far shows a person who is always moving and creating. It feels likely that she will continue to write stories and share new work with her audience. Readers who enjoy her voice probably have good reason to stay tuned for whatever she does next.

Early and Personal Life

Amy DuBois Barnett was raised in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood by her parents, Stephen and Marguerite Ross Barnett. Her mother made history as the first Black woman to serve as the head of a major research university. Growing up in that environment likely shaped her views on education and ambition from an early age.

She studied French and political science as an undergraduate at Brown University, where she also became a member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Following graduation, she worked briefly in finance before realizing she wanted to take her career in another direction. She then completed a certificate in fashion merchandising at Parsons and took a job at Lord & Taylor.

Barnett moved to Ireland next to study writing and literature at University College Dublin. That experience paved the way for her to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at Columbia University. It was there that she truly honed her craft as a writer.

Writing Career

Amy DuBois Barnett has built a writing career that spans several decades and genres. Her first published short story, “Do Not Uncover Buried Things,” appeared in Obsidian III back in 1999. Another story, “Mirror Image,” was included in the 2002 anthology Gumbo: A Celebration of African American Writing, edited by Marita Golden. In 2014, she contributed a piece called “What Are You, Anyway?” to The Brown Reader, a collection of memories from fellow Brown University alumni.

Her first book, Get Yours!, came out in 2007 through Random House. That advice guide for women was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Then she had a debut novel, If I Ruled The World, released in 2026 with Flatiron Books. She continues to write, so there is likely more on the way.

If I Ruled the World

The historical novel ‘If I Ruled the World’ was written by Amy DuBois Barnett. Flatiron Books published the title on January 27, 2026. The book represented her debut novel.

In 1999, Nikki Rose was the only Black editor at a prestigious fashion magazine, but she walked away after her boss repeatedly claimed that Black women do not sell magazines. She took over Sugar, a struggling hiphop publication, and had six months to turn it around while navigating a world of wealth and late nights. Her biggest obstacle was Alonzo Griffin, her married former boss who was determined to destroy both her and the magazine. Along the way, she relied on close friends and dealt with unexpected romances that made her reconsider what she truly wanted.

This book drops readers right into the highstakes world of magazine publishing in the 90s. The main character is easy to root for as she fights to save a struggling publication. The tension with her dangerous exboss keeps things moving at a good clip. It is a fun story about ambition, friendship, and figuring out what you really want.

Get Yours

The self-help book ‘Get Yours!’ was written by Amy DuBois Barnett. Crown Archetype published the title on September 25, 2007. This was her first book release.

This selfhelp book by Amy DuBois Barnett aims to help women improve their jobs, relationships, and overall lives. She shares her personal story of growing more confident and independent over time. The book includes interviews with celebrities like Gayle King, Venus Williams, and Gabrielle Union on topics such as career, health, and style. Readers get quizzes, tips, and tools meant to help them find passion, build wealth, develop style, and strengthen connections with others.

It’s a novel that feels like a genuine conversation with someone who has been through it all. The author shares real stories from her own life alongside practical tips that are easy to try. Hearing from so many successful women in the celebrity interviews adds a nice variety of perspectives. It is the kind of guide that leaves a reader feeling motivated and ready to make changes.