“Authentic connection”—it’s not just another buzzword, is it?
Especially in an industry where stories and relationships fuel everything we do. People want to know the real person behind the books, not just the polished blurb or posed cover photo.
It truly is remarkable what a little authenticity can do; it builds loyalty in ways no marketing trick could ever match.
Take my recent experience at the Vancouver Writers Festival, where I met Kern Carter, author of ‘And Then There Was Us’. Kern spoke at two venues I attended, Coming of Age and Finding Hope. He shared raw, personal stories that inspired his work. Despite his book being fiction, he shared the journey between him and his daughter that became the heart of his story. His message?
Choose forgiveness.
It was a powerful takeaway, one I’ll remember every time I see his handwritten message in my signed copy.
I had the good fortune of a “behind-the-scenes” chat with Kern Carter, who shared his journey from self-publishing to being picked up by not one, but TWO traditional publishers.
I have to smile because, as Kern pointed out, no matter the route—self-published or traditional—the energy required for marketing is the same. You have to put in the work to engage readers.
Kern is a true example of an author who knows how to use authentic connection to his advantage. Meeting him was a real pleasure; his talks were both engaging and genuine, and reading his book afterwards felt richer because of it. The book was real, too. A young girl’s journey on learning to make peace with her past and reconnect with her family. It resonated.
These types of in-person connections are where readers get to experience the person behind the words. It’s how you get noticed – standing out like a cornstalk in a bean field. It’s powerful, it’s genuine, and in the end, that’s what truly resonates.
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