Dara’s work is centered around her belief that books can save lives, open doors, and build bridges. As co-founder of the publishing company Wise Ink, she seeks authors whose missions are to share powerful stories that ignite change, tolerance, and growth.

Dara has been involved in the publishing community for more than fifteen years, acquiring manuscripts, managing projects, and creating marketing and sales strategies for authors and publishers. She’s helped more than four hundred authors publish their books. Dara has a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University. She’s a previous board member of the Minnesota Center for Book Arts and currently serves on theLoft Literary Center board.

She is the author of The Indie Author Revolution and co-author of Social Media Secrets for Authors and Buzz: The Ultimate Guide to Book Marketing. When she’s not busy pushing the envelope in this crazy world of publishing and networking with inspiring entrepreneurs, she’s traveling and enjoying her husband’s delicious Jamaican meals.

Dara is also the author Amina of Zaria: The Warrior Queen, the first in a series of children’s picture books based on the actual lives of black queens in history. She’s been featured in such publications as the NY Daily News, The Washington Post, MPLS. St. Paul Magazine, MPR, and The Guardian.

Dara has been invited to speak around the country about writing, blogging, book publishing, and entrepreneurship. She’s a graduate of the Yale Publishing Course and a recipient of the Bush Foundation Fellowship, Woman in Business Award, Emerging Leader Award, and Emerging Writer Fellowship granted through the Given’s Foundation.Dara splits her time running one of the leading hybrid publishing companies in the U.S. and working on her personal writing projects.

She is a 2002 graduate of Mary Baldwin and holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English with a Minor in African-American Studies. She obtained her Master’s Degree in Publishing from George Washington University.