Amy DuBois Barnett on Her Novel 'If I Ruled The World' and Career in Media

The Genesis of 'If I Ruled The World'

• 💡 The novel "If I Ruled the World" was initially started by Amy DuBois Barnett when she was editor-in-chief of Teen People.
• 🎯 Barnett, the first Black woman to run a major mainstream magazine, navigated the music and magazine industries during the early 2000s, facing misogyny and racism.
• ⏳ The book was set aside for 15 years before Barnett revisited it, feeling the themes of ambition, identity, and power were more urgent than ever.

Themes and Setting of the Novel

• 🔑 "If I Ruled the World," a nod to NAS and Lawrence Hill, explores the price of ambition and the sacrifices made to achieve dreams.
• 🏙️ The novel is set in late 1990s and 2000s New York City, at the intersection of music, magazines, and fashion.
• 🎭 The protagonist, a 29-year-old, is coming into her power within influential institutions, where glamour and danger coexist.

Fiction vs. Memoir

• ✍️ While inspired by Barnett's journey as an editor-in-chief and based on a world she knows well, the protagonist's journey is a work of fiction.
• 🎭 Barnett used the novel format to explore "what if" scenarios and make different decisions than she did in her own life, allowing for emotional catharsis.

Television Adaptation Deal

• 📺 Barnett envisioned the book being adapted for screen due to its cinematic and visual nature.
• 🎬 The novel secured a television development deal with Lee Daniels at Hulu before its publication.

Author's Gratitude

• 🎉 Barnett expressed excitement and gratitude for her book's release on its pub day.
• ❤️ She emphasized the love and heart she poured into the book and appreciated the support.