Case Study: Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Testimonials
How Sistah Scifi Amplified Kemi Ashing-Giwa’s Voice Through Social Media.
A strategic partnership that turned engagement into transformation.
"Isis and the Sistah Scifi team are incredible. They are truly committed to fostering a vibrant, supportive community for speculative-fiction writers and readers, and collaborating with them has been a real highlight in my author journey. I can't recommend working with Sistah Scifi highly enough."
-Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Case Study Overview (The Splinter In The Sky)
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Challenges:
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Limited preorder visibility for The Splinter in the Sky despite its USA Today bestseller status.
- Needed to simultaneously drive book sales and attendance for the Science Behind Science Fiction series launch.
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Position Kemi Ashing-Giwa as a rising speculative fiction voice while connecting the story to broader educational and cultural conversations.
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Actions:
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Social Media
- Produced preorder-focused content across Instagram and Facebook, blending book promotion with event highlights. -
Eventbrite + Live Programming
- Science Behind Science Fiction launch event on October 26, 2023, at The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room in Oakland, CA, featuring Kemi Ashing-Giwa in conversation about her debut novel.
- Sistah Scifi Series event on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 6 PM PST at the San Francisco Public Library African American Center (100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102). This in-person program was proudly presented as a partnership between Sistah Scifi and SFPL’s African American Center.
- Spotlighted The Splinter in the Sky, a diverse, exciting space opera about young tea expert Enitan, who becomes a political prisoner and spy, navigating the Vaalbaran capital to seek vengeance, rescue her sibling, and reclaim her nation’s freedom. The book highlights Afrofuturist and Afrofantasy storytelling and showcases the contributions of Black women authors to speculative literature.
- Tickets were promoted via Eventbrite to drive attendance and preorder interest
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Outreach
- Partnered with Saga Press, Simon Books, and SFPL to expand reach. Engaged literary communities, influencers, and sci-fi audiences in comment threads, reposts, and social discussions.
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Results
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Posts supporting the preorder campaign performed strongly, with top Instagram promo generating 127 Likes, 8 Comments, 1,941 Views, 15 Shares, 17 Saves.
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Coordinated Instagram, Eventbrite, and in-person activations increased awareness across multiple audiences, from sci-fi fans to academic.
- Comments, shares, and saves indicated active reader interest in both the book and the thematic connection to science and speculative storytelling.
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Relevance
- This campaign demonstrates Sistah Scifi’s expertise in merging book marketing with cultural and educational programming. By tying preorder content to Afrofuturist storytelling, live events, and SFPL partnerships, the campaign elevated Kemi Ashing-Giwa as a thought leader and rising author while expanding the reach of her debut novel beyond niche speculative fiction circles.
The Splinter in the Sky invites readers into a vibrant, politically charged Afrofuturist world while celebrating the boundless creativity of Black women authors in speculative literature, illustrating how well-executed campaign storytelling can drive both sales and meaningful engagement.
Social Media Highlights:
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Instagram:
1. Sistah Scifi Series Author Splinter In The Sky Author Event Promo
-Metrics: 2,144 Views | 50 Likes | 3 Comments | 3 Shares | 4 Saves
-Analysis: High reach indicates strong curiosity about the collaboration with SFPL.
2. The Science Behind Science Fiction Author Event Promo
-Metrics: 1,941 Views |127 Likes | 8 Comments |15 Shares | 17 Saves
-Analysis: Best-performing promo post — balanced engagement across likes, comments, shares, and saves.
3. The Science Behind Science Fiction Author Event Promo
-Metrics: 1,460 Views | 38 Likes | 3 Comments | 9 Shares | 7 Saves
-Analysis: Shares and saves reveal the content worked well as a shareable announcement.
4. The Science Behind Science Fiction Author Event Promo
-Metrics: 1,093 Views | 61 Likes | 8 Comments | 8 Shares | 4 Saves
-Analysis: Strong comment activity indicates genuine interest in the event and its themes.
5. The Science Behind Science Fiction Author Event Promo
-Metrics: 987 Views | 48 Likes | 1 Comments | 2 Shares
-Analysis: Lower interaction, suggesting timing or visuals impacted traction.
6. The Science Behind Science Fiction Author Event Recap
-Metrics: 987 Views | 44 Likes | 3 Shares
-Analysis: Solid post-event visibility, but recaps typically draw less engagement than promos.
7. Author Spotlight
-Metrics: 734 Views | 27 Likes | 2 Comments | 3 Shares | 2 Saves
-Analysis: Niche but valuable — highlights author visibility even when engagement is lighter.