On episode 67, get ready for a pep talk about the importance of community when it comes to stepping into your Famous Author Era.

Tune in to learn:

• Why you need a community of fellow authors to really help you thrive and survive in your famous author era.
• The proven benefits of having a community to help you achieve your book promotion and audience building goals.
• How and where to find the perfect author community.
• The pitfalls of achieving literary success alone.

LIT LINKS to LEARN MORE

To learn more about Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, read this article.

Review the episodes of the podcast featuring Robin Davis and Nadia Alexis to hear how these two debut authors successfully leaned into community when launching their books.

To learn more about The Reed, Write, & Create Sanctuary, add your name to the Tell Me More List. Remember doors to the Sanctuary will open on November 21 - 28, 2025. After that, they stay closed until May 2026. If you want an application, you must be on the list.

If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, visit the reed write and create website at REEDWriteandcreate.com.

For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter

Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 66, we're talking about how to use the power of community, connection, and conscious marketing to sell more books and have a more successful and satisfying career as an author. My guest on the show is Tamela J. Gordon.

Tamela Gordon is a literary activist, the author of the critically acclaimed 2024 memoir, Hood Wellness, and she is an acquisitions editor at Row House Books. She is also a book critic, self-care coach, and performer. Online, she uses the handle, She Writes to Live to share her wisdom and advice for writers.

This isn’t a conversation about algorithms and social media. Expensive publicists and bestseller lists aren’t part of the discussion. You are going to hear about a paradigm-shifting way to view book selling, book marketing, and finding the readers who will support you and read your books.

Get ready to lean in and learn. Welcome to Your Famous Author Era.

Lit Links to Learn More

Follow Tamela Gordon at She Writes to Live on Instagram and Threads.

Buy Tamela’s book, Hood Wellness at the Reed, Write, & Create bookshop.

WE’RE OPENING THE DOORS TO The Sanctuary at the end of November. If you’ve been looking for a supportive writing community to join, and you are a BIPoC woman who takes your writing seriously, then make sure you’re on the Tell Me More Wait List so you’ll be the first to know when the applications go live. Inside The Sanctuary we provide everything writers need to succeed and thrive in their writing life. Check out the website for more details on all of the resources and activities we offer inside The Sanctuary.

If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com.

For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter

Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.

On episode 65, I am giving you a pep talk about finding your 1000 true reader fans. This is a term that is often thrown about in entrepreneur spaces when it comes to sales and marketing, but it’s something authors need to think about as well.

Therefore, in this episode we’re going to talk about:

• Why authors should be searching for fans not audiences or followers.
• How to figure out who your real fans are.
• Where to find your fans.
• How to nurture your fans once you find them.

This isn’t going to be a theoretical pep talk. I’m sharing facts and figures from the publishing industry to support why having 1000 true reader fans would significantly move the needle on your career and longevity as an author.

Grab a pencil and get ready to take notes. This is a good one.

LINKS TO LEARN MORE

If you want to start your own book club and/or find your readers online try:

Fable: A Social App for readers

The Storygraph: An alternative to Goodreads created by a Black woman.

Bindery is a start-up publisher relying on author fandoms to drive publishing decisions.

The Black British Book Festival recently announced their new partnership with Pan MacMillan.

WE’RE OPENING THE DOORS TO The Sanctuary at the end of November. If you’ve been looking for a supportive writing community to join, and you are a BIPoC woman who takes your writing seriously, then make sure you’re on the Tell Me More Wait List so you’ll be the first to know when the applications go live. Inside The Sanctuary we provide everything writers need to succeed and thrive in their writing life. Check out the website for more details on what we offer.

If you're looking for more creative writing inspiration, and useful resources for your literary life, check out the Reed, Write, & Create website at ReedWriteandCreate.com.

For literary inspiration and opportunities delivered right to your inbox, sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create monthly newsletter

Follow Lori on YouTube at LiteraryLori

Please feel free to show your love and support for this podcast by making a small donation via Buy Me A Coffee.