SUCCESSFUL AUTHORSHIP
Building Successful Authorship
This new website/blog…Jeanne Burrows-Johnson’s Imaginings.com…is settling into a new blog environment. Unlike other blogs, the dates of my postings do not matter since the news pages on my website notify readers of new publications and special events. On this blog, categories of topics are used to help visitors find subjects of particular use…hopefully for a prolonged time. The category of this page is directly pointed to Creative Professionals making public appearances. Perhaps that appearance is merely one of attendance at an event. But it could be that one is expected to speak to the other attendees in mass, demonstrate some achieved skill, and/or display the fruits of their labor. When the creative is an author, their reading from at least one work is usually expected.
The evolving literary marketplace in today’s world brings many concerns to the mind of every author, especially as the season of literary fairs and other book events opens in the spring. For me, the opening of the literary season begins with the Tucson Festival of Books, Saturday and Sunday, March 14 and 15, 2026, on the grounds of the University of Arizona. Because of COVID and then recovery from several falls, I have not participated in this event for several years. If I am fortunate, I will be presenting the award-winning Natalie Seachrist Visionary Hawaiian Cozy Mysteries on the afternoon of the first day! Regardless of what we have planned for such events, it is important to review how you have prepared for such occurrences in the past…For introducing yourself is as important as presenting the works you have written! I invite you to read the “Wearing Your Brand” and “Event Planning” posts.
IS PRESENTING YOUR WORK FLOWING HARMONIOUSLY?
Are your emerging works in sync with past ones? Would a series of news releases or articles from friendly media make transitions in your work appealing to your followers? Have you thought about increasing your visibility in social media or the professional organizations to which you belong? Are there local, regional, national, or even international activities in which you might participate effectively? Many authors and other artisans do not realize that the events of their local chambers of commerce may be open to their participation for a reasonable fee? And what about an art exhibit or even an ethnic activity such as a Highland Games at which you (and perhaps a colleague) might have a booth where your can introduce yourself and your works can be viewed and purchased? Keep in mind that for large events unrelated to authorship, you might need to create photographs of yourself and product signage that will attract the interest of other participants and attendees.
PRESENTING YOURSELF AS AN AUTHOR
Regardless of our age (or the number of their authored works) a writer is always concerned with the longevity of their works’ visibility... and that means making the most of how we present ourselves in every professional appearance. When is the last time you looked at yourself in a large mirror appearing as you normally present yourself as an author? While I’m not suggesting that you abruptly undertake a workout program, or replace your entire wardrobe, there may be simple things you can do to enhance your memorability, as well as that of your writing.
Once you’ve appraised your current professional appearance, do the exercise again, holding your first, and then your latest, published work prominently. Repeat this assessment another time, holding a flier or other marketing piece to see how your grooming, attire, and accessories balance with your works. If this is not a sufficient self-appraisal, you might consider how the you of today compares to images from the beginning of your career as an author, or another point in your professional life. If you find that there is a disharmony between you, your creations, and the materials promoting all, contemplate the ways everything can be brought into alignment. Such changes may not all fall upon your shoulders alone, if you rely on an agent, manager, or other person or entity.
CREATING A DYNAMIC IMAGE AS AN AUTHOR
There is an adage that a true author or artist should create works reflecting the growth of their personal and professional life experience. How you project yourself physically and vocally, is indeed a reflection of your inner self, and should also be evident in the works you generate as an author. That does not mean that the genre(s) of the books and articles we create have to include concrete elements from our actual lives...although it is good when the inner qualities are similar. For instance, I have a fear of falling, and would never make a good horsewoman, but that does not mean I’m incapable of expressing the joy that a horsewoman feels upon the back of her favorite steed while cantering across a haunting plain at dusk.
MAXIMIZING AN EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION
Like a butterfly emerging from a caterpillar’s cocoon, each of us can re-orientate our outward projection to the world when it will make us (and our work) pleasingly memorable. If you work in multiple genres and/or storylines with unique characters in varying locales, this may seem difficult. But we can simplify this today, looking at merely a couple of examples. The main point is that from our personal appearance to that of the products and services we offer, we should be able to magnify our dynamism by our choices of color, style lines, and texture in our clothing, accessories, and hair as well as the marketing and promotional materials with which we are presented during a professional activity.
REDUCING MY PROPOSALS TO ONE WORD, I OFFER CONSISTENCY
A friend and co-author of mine is NorthCarolinian poet Bill Black Jr. who has many artistic talents. His authorship ranges from western and military poetry to scripts, and from technical articles to educational programs. He has performed as a poet/storyteller, magician, and MC for shows throughout this country and over a dozen others around the world. Do you have an image of him in your mind’s eye? If you’re picturing a casual (and worn) cowboy hat, shirt, and boots, you’re in the right vein! But his style as a performer is altered somewhat when he is acting as an MC, for which he may wear a more formal style of jacket and pants. So you can see that the attire of one genre’s artist is not always the same. I have seen western poets in slick new hats, sparkling shirts, and polished boots who are also excellent and authentic performers!
MY AUTHOR PORTRAIT
Although I had a BA and advanced coursework in American and Asian history (and had written professionally for decades), I did not begin writing fiction until about twelve years ago. During the birth of the Natalie Seachrist Visionary Hawaiian Cozy Mysteries, I contemplated aspects of Hawai‛i that I wanted to express in the series. I knew I wanted consistent images in my book covers (check out the Hawaiian heirloom jewelry frames on my covers) as well as the diacritical marks used in the Hawaiian language and an annotated glossary. Once Prospect for Murder was published, I pondered how I would incorporate stylistic elements of life in Hawai`i in my public readings and sales events. In some settings, I have used décor such as a floral lei, koa wood receptacles for marketing materials, and shells on a gold tablecloth that harmonizes with the my gold book frames.
In terms of my appearance, I could wear a casual mu‛umu‛u, sandals, a straw hat, and kuku‛i nut jewelry. Or, I could don a holokū gown, an intricate floral lei around my neck, a floral haku lei in my hair, and Hawaiian heirloom gold bracelets. None of this seemed appropriate, for although I’m often considered a kama‛aina (having lived in Hawai`i for over twenty years) I’m noted for decorous business attire. Therefore, I wear solid colored dresses and shoes, varying Island or Asian patterned jackets, orchids in my hair (admittedly often silk), and elegant jewelry. And so I’ve reached my goal: when looking in a mirror, I project an image in keeping with my Hawaiian mysteries.
HARMONIZING YOUR APPEARANCE, WORKS, & MARKETING
Regardless of your age, genre of work, or professional affiliations, your goal is to project a palette of images for yourself that is in keeping with the work you produce. To achieve this, I suggest examining other authors working in your genre(s), keeping notes on:
~ The seriousness of their stories
~ Formality of their overall language and the vocabulary of their characters
~ Layout, fonts, and colors in their works, plus ads and other marketing materials
~ Their photos, product displays, and public appearances you may find Online
Remember, you may even find inspiration in the lives, works, and marketing of non-authors! I often collect business cards, brochures, and second-hand books, and scan the Internet for interesting websites, blogs, and interviews. Regardless of the style of your work and living,always maximize the positive memorability of your public appearances...and that can include trips to the grocery store, events at your church, your child’s school, or during a luau on your next Hawaiian vacation! And don’t forget to look outstanding in activities with your professional organization(s)!
