Rupi Kaur is an Indian-Canadian poet and author best known for her two published collections of poetry, “milk and honey” and “the sun and her flowers”. Andrew Kidd of McClelland & Stewart imprint was the first to recognize the potential of Kaur’s work in “milk and honey”, and he acquired the book in 2014. McClelland & Stewart released the collection in October 2015, which quickly became Amazon’s best-selling poetry title. Kaur is the only debut poet to have ever made the New York Times Bestseller List, which she achieved twice during 2016.
Despite recognition for her work, Kaur maintained a humble attitude toward her success, attributing its reach to the power of social media. During her book tour in July 2016, her Twitter followers totaled upwards of 600,000, while her Instagram followers numbered approximately 1.3 million. Posting excerpts of her works on social media, Kaur connected with readers worldwide and made an impressive international following.
Kaur’s collection of poetry has earned her various prestigious awards and titles. “Milk and Honey” was shortlisted for the Goodreads Choice Awards for ‘ Best Poetry’, and for ‘ Best Debut Goodreads Author’, both in 2015. In 2017, she won the ‘Best Selling Indian Author of the Year Award’ at the ET Global Awards.
In 2017, Kaur published her second collection of poetry titled “the sun and her flowers”. This was released in multiple languages and debuted at the top of the New York Times Bestseller List. Kaur also served as one of the illustrators.
Kaur’s work has an accessible and subjective quality that resonates with readers, making her one of the most influential young poets of this generation. Her unique art of storytelling transcends boundaries and encourages her readers across racial and social divides. In addition to her award-winning collections of poetry, Kaur also has published a children’s book titled “Rupi Kaur’s World Of Knowledge”.
By 2021, her total sales have exceeded 5 million copies worldwide. Her work has been published in over forty international editions, and it is estimated that a million copies of Kaur’s books have been sold in India itself. Her success provides a testament to the power of self-promotion, the reach of social media and a genuinely talented creative voice.
Achievements
Kaur’s work has earned her high praise and various prestigious awards and titles around the world. “milk and honey” was shortlisted for the Goodreads Choice Awards in both 2015 and 2017, winning ‘Best Poetry’ and ‘Best Debut Goodreads Author’ respectively. In 2017, Kaur was also the proud recipient of the ‘Best Selling Indian Author of the Year Award’ at the ET Global Awards. These achievements certainly earned Kaur the reputation as one of the most influential young poets of this generation, and her success provides a testament to the power of self-promotion, the reach of social media and her creative voice.
Social Media Reach
Social media was extremely vital to the spread of Rupi Kaur’s work and the success of her collections of poetry. During her book tour in July 2016, her Twitter followers and Instagram followers totaled upwards of 600,000 and 1.3 million respectively. Posting excerpts and snippets of her works on social media connected with readers and made an impressive international following that translated into sales and positioned her as a bestselling poet.
Languages
Kaur’s work is standing proof of the reach of language and the power of her storytelling. Her second collection of poetry titled “the sun and her flowers” was released in several languages, debuting at the top of the New York Times Best Seller list. In 2021, her total sales have exceeded 5 million copies worldwide, and her work continues to impact the lives of readers of various nationalities including the publication of 40+ translations.
Illustrations
In addition to her poetic writing, Kaur also served as an illustrator for her acclaimed collections. Kaur’s use of vibrant colors and character portrayal in her work speaks to the soul of each reader, capturing the rhetorical power and emotion of everyday moments. Her distinct series of illustrations is symbolic of her artistic expression and her niche as a storyteller.
Self-Promotion Strategy
Kaur’s self-promotion strategy played an important role in establishing her as an award-winning poet. Through her series of productions, marketing and publication, Kaur was able to increase the awareness of her work and her reach worldwide. Her use of social media was particularly unique, providing readers with easy access to excerpts and snippets of her collections.
