About Me

I grew up in New Jersey in the 70s and 80s.

We were the only Asian family in a nearly all-white neighborhood. I was born in Spanish Harlem, NYC and raised in a Jersey Shore suburb. As an only child and a latchkey kid I watched a lot of TV and ate a lot of Keeblers Soft Batch chocolate chip cookies. I had a dog named Charlie. I loved to read. I also loved writing. I wrote to keep myself company. Between my dog, Brady Bunch re-runs, my journals and pens, I was good. 

My parents are Chinese immigrants who were born in China and grew up in Taiwan. Despite their hopes for me to become a doctor or lawyer or at least a corporate somebody, I became a writer and stayed one. I use writing to help myself and others in all sorts of ways and feel incredibly lucky to get to use the written word every day to try to make our world a little better.

I live with my husband and tween daughter now in sunny Berkeley, California (because even though the Jersey snow was fun as a kid, me and cold weather don't actually mix). I’m still in awe of the fact that society is letting me be a parent of an actual human being, one that continues to challenge and humble me on the regular.

In my free time (which I’ve recently gained back thanks to no longer having to feed/dress/crisis manage a small person) I enjoy reading, writing, meditating, exercising, cooking, and dancing.

MY MORE OFFICIAL BIO:

Sharline Chiang is a writer, editor, book coach, publicist, and marketing and strategic communications consultant who specializes in the intersection of race, social justice, and politics. She is originally from New Jersey now based in Berkeley, CA. Her writings have appeared in BuzzFeed, Rumpus, OZY, Mutha, Hyphen, and CAAM.

She served as book editor/author’s coach for New York Times bestseller Brown Is the New White: How the Demographic Revolution Has Created a New American Majority, and How We Win the Civil War: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good, both by national political thought leader Steve Phillips. She is the co-host of the political podcast “Democracy in Color with Steve Phillips.” She is a proud, long-time member of the Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation (VONA) writers of color community.

A former journalist, she has worked for newspapers on the East and West Coast, including the Asbury Park Press, New York Daily News, L.A. Daily News, and Riverside Press-Enterprise.

A publicist, media relations and communications professional for the past 20-plus years, she has served as the strategic communications director for several organizations including The National Writing Project; Chinese American International School; and The Berkeley School.

She holds a bachelor's from Rutgers University's School of Business and a master's from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.

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You can read my entire resume on my LINKEDIN page.  Thanks for stopping by!