Meet Romusa Media of Romusa Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Romusa Media.

Hi Romusa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Romusa Media was born out of a love and passion for publishing books as well as a recognition of the independent path in lieu of traditional publishing. The first two letters in Romusa are the first two letters of my mother’s first name, the third and forth letters in Romusa are the first two letters of my first name, and the fifth and sixth letters in Romusa are the first two of my late brother’s first name. Coincidentally, the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth letters make up the entirety of my son’s first name.

The first novel published under Romusa Media was a collaboration with a very talented designer and illustrator in Atlanta by the name of Luis Pineda. He delivered jaw dropping work of art which fit the novel’s theme to a tee.

From that point forward, every novel I wrote was published via Romusa Media.

We are interested in publishing novels by aspiring authors.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being responsible for formatting, proofreading, and editing while also writing the novel is the most difficult part. In reality, I am a one man publishing house responsible for A to Z whereas at Random House or Scribner or Little Brown or Penguin, all these duties are split up amongst a talented group of skilled highly specialized individuals.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Romusa Media is an independent publishing imprint founded in Atlanta, GA, in 2012 by Pakistani-American novelist and storyteller Mustafa Abubaker. It serves as a vehicle for emotionally resonant, character-driven fiction that often centers South Asian, immigrant, and diasporic voices—stories that blend romance, magical realism, mystery, and social drama with high-stakes emotional tension and addictive pacing.
What We Do & Specialize In
We publish original novels and novellas that prioritize:

Emotionally charged romance — especially enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, forbidden love, and cross-cultural dynamics.
Magical realism and speculative elements grounded in authentic human experience.
South Asian and diaspora narratives — placing these characters at the center of desire, identity, family secrets, visibility, and transformation.
Serialized-friendly storytelling — cliffhanger pacing, episodic structure, sharp dialogue, and unresolved tension designed for binge consumption (perfect for mobile-first and short-form vertical drama formats).

Our catalog includes titles such as:

We Are Also Home (2020) — a 444-page magical realist romance spanning Karachi and Atlanta.
Cold Chai (2023) — a culturally intimate slow-burn romance.
When Wind Has Water In It (2024) — lush magical realism and romance in an Irish setting.
The Election (2024) — high-stakes political and social drama.
Other works like Cloud Var and the Summer Shivers, The Photographer, Love in the Time of War, and Permacrisis.

What Sets Us Apart
Romusa Media stands out through its authentic cross-cultural storytelling, literary craft elevated for addictive commercial appeal, and a focus on underrepresented voices without sacrificing emotional depth or page-turning momentum. The stories are written by someone who has lived the diaspora experience, resulting in rich interiority, subtext, and cultural specificity that feels genuine rather than performative. We also emphasize adaptability — our narrative style (short scenes, high emotional stakes, strong dialogue) maps naturally onto episodic and mobile-first formats like Galatea/Inkitt.
What We’re Most Proud Of Brand-Wise
We’re proud of building a body of work over more than a decade that consistently delivers “page-turner” experiences while exploring meaningful themes like invisibility/erasure, identity, power, survival, and love under pressure. Starting from a high-school debut (The Surrogate, 2012) through national recognition (YoungArts Merit Award) and ongoing professional growth (M.A. in Professional Writing, journalism in Rolling Stone, etc.), Romusa Media represents independent, author-driven storytelling that punches above its weight. The brand is known for atmospheric, mood-rich prose and characters readers deeply connect with.
For readers and partners, we want you to know that Romusa Media is about compulsive, heartfelt stories that entertain while expanding representation. Whether it’s sweeping magical realist romance or tense social drama, every title is engineered for emotional immersion and sustained engagement — exactly the kind of storytelling that thrives in today’s mobile, serialized world.
We’re excited about opportunities to adapt these worlds and bring fresh, diverse voices to wider audiences through innovative platforms.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The quality of perseverance.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.romusamedia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romusamedia