How do you sell what you’ve written?
Presenter: B. Alan Bourgeois
This is such a common question these days. You pour out your heart, write the best book you can, and put it up online, but what then? How do you get readers to find you amid the mountains of books out there?
B. Alan Bourgeois, our November guest, will shed light on this often murky subject. Alan is the founder and director of Texas Authors, Inc, a non-profit organization that helps Indie authors in countless ways.
You might say, he’s the guru of marketing and promoting yourself. Half of his eye-opening program will be a mini-seminar that will show authors new ways of promoting and helping them stand out above the throng of Indie books that are released each day.
In the second half of his talk, Alan will discuss the various programs and events designed to give authors a boost in marketing. One event not to miss is the yearly Author’s Marketing Conference that focuses on innovative ideas that work. Of note: He’s compiling a database of Texas authors on a site called Texas Authors Institute and he’ll tell you how you can be a part of that. He’ll also tell you about a yearly event called DEAR Texas (Drop Everything and Read.) The proceeds of this sale go to put books into Texas children’s hands.
As an added plus, each year, the Texas Authors, Inc. organization has a short story contest where winners in a multitude of genres are published in a compilation and marketed through Texas Authors, Inc.
Mr. Bourgeois began writing as a child, but as many children of his era were told, “You need to study and get a real job to earn a living.” That statement from a well-meaning mother put a pause on his desire to write.
In 1989, he was asked to write a short story based on an actual event in his life. He did, and it was published as $200 Alan. Seeing his story in print once again inspired him to begin writing. Since then, he has written many articles, short stories, editorials and has 7 books published covering many genres.
He continues to write and assist new authors through Texas Authors, Inc. and his company Bourgeois Media & Consulting (BMC). “There is nothing greater than seeing someone’s dreams become reality,” he says.
