We recently connected with Andrew Snorton and have shared our conversation below.

Andrew, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

As a published author (4 books and 5 audiobooks), press/media advisor (as I work with businesses and events with their engagement with radio, television, magazines, and related media to connect with multiple audiences), and educator (individual tutoring/coaching to ACT/SAT prep), the underlying theme is simple.

There’s a charge I have to keep.

People known and unknown have advocated for me to be here; therefore, I have to keep things going so I may be an advocate for others. In writing, it’s about helping others find their voice, let alone be the voice needed to get the conversation going so more thoughtful and deliberate action can take place to help make things a little better than when we started. Within press/media, it’s about amplifying narratives that at times get overlooked or not shared as fully as they could be. And with education, it’s helping students unlock their gifts and potential, from academia to the creative.

Just as others known and unknown have done and are doing for me, so too do I need to do for others as best as possible.

Andrew, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

On the writing end, my current release, “quotes and notes: something’s on the horizon” is a collection of original quotes (by me) which are designed to make the reader pause, think, reflect, and challenge themselves. Beyond the time to do these things is space for them to record their take on things and how they can apply them (or go beyond them) to better frame their thoughts into constructive action aligned with their goals for personal, professional, and civic/community growth. My book on baseball, “nothing Minor” focuses on my coverage of minor league baseball. About half the players interviewed are on Major League Baseball rosters and/or have seen time at that level; beyond the game coverage, the insights they share can be applied beyond the game to other aspects of life, be it personal to professional. The features on the Negro Southern League Museum as well as having a significant number of African-American players interviewed (when there are less than 10% playing at the Major League level) sheds light on this demographic’s historical and potential contemporary impact on the game.

My previous releases, “9 stories of faith: volume 1” and “Deeper than your deepest sleep: thoughts on love with Joseph Snorton”, go in different directions; “9 stories” is interview-based as the people in the book share what their biggest daily challenge or struggle is (i.e. physical health, mental health, life after incarceration, and other challenges), but via their respective faith (Christianity, Hinduism, or Islam), use of best practices in health and wellness, their support network (i.e. family and friends), and changing their way of thinking, they live positive lives. “Deeper” takes a look at the action and energy of love as it’s a poetic retelling of a conversation with a long-lost family member. Love via the lenses of family, friends, loved ones past and present, and a self-reflection piece help people see how broad and impactful it really is. And with The Author’s Mixtape audiobook series, it’s a freestyle music and spoken word experience which speaks to a wide array of topics; be it self-image and worth, societal issues, and more, it just provides yet another voice for the voiceless, and with the contributions of co-author Kris Kinder (on volumes 4 and 5), it provides another voice and much needed cathartic release.

On the education end, student tutoring and coaching (individual and virtual for grades 5-12 mainly) helps students to help themselves. When you work with students on core subjects to clearing the ACT/SAT, it’s more than giving them the skill sets needed to be successful; it’s a reminder of the internal attributes they truly possess, but they just needed help to further empower them to bring out their hidden or dormant gifts and talents for their academic and creative success. On the press/media end, it’s all about sharing the narrative and story of impact. Ranging from previous work with 1820lifestyle, Styletainment, and the Alphas of Atlanta (for their #AlphaDerbyWeekend), if you don’t share the information, nobody has an idea of who you are, what you are doing, and how what you are doing can be of service to you, your community, and beyond.

With all of these, there’s a different pathway (author, educator, and press/media). On the author end (and on the press/media end), it really extends from the previous writing I did for Examiner.com (March 2011-July 2016 when the magazine ends production). I knew I wanted to write, but I didn’t know what direction (press or author). It finally hit me just as you can walk and chew gum at the same time, I could still do press coverage (via my business, Creative Community Solutions) AND write (thanks to insight from fellow authors Tyressa Ty and Darrius Gourdine). From there, my first published book (Deeper) is released in 2017 and in addition to being online (Amazon and Barnes and Noble), I’m blessed to be in multiple bookstores and have spoken/presented at multiple festivals, including this month’s Book and Literacy Fair at the DuSable Museum (Chicago on October 8, 2022) and the Mississippi Book Festival (August 2017-19, 2022), as well as my upcoming return to Louisville, KY on October 30th (Fante’s Coffee) among other festivals, signings, and related events.

On the press/media end, I’ve covered or have been on the media lists in arts/entertainment, government (Congressmen and women from Georgia), sports (college football and minor league baseball), and other events. I also have my own show (The Conversation Corner via the Status Network/LyveTV channel – we are on break currently) where I’ve had a wide range of guests from candidates for Congress to arts and entertainment figures, fellow journalists, authors, and more who are doing some great things across entertainment, business, and community. On the education end, I previously taught middle school (Language Arts, Social Studies, Journalism, and advised a few clubs [Black History Month, the Lyricist’s Lounge poetry club, and others]) and as I transitioned out of the classroom to nonprofits, education is ever-present; the tutoring/student coaching extends from a program student asking for help on his SAT, and as they say, the rest is history (and still going).

What sets me apart from others on all ends is doing my best to be authentic and accessible. In being authentic, people can see you are dedicated to your work and do your best to be dedicated to theirs in making sure they are in as sound a place as possible. When you see entities and individuals grow and realize more of their potential (from students, to readers, and the people/businesses you work with), it’s a blessing. These are underlying themes in all of my work in these fields in seeing it is possible and it can get done, even if it takes a little longer than planned.

We know what happens when you don’t try, so you might as well do as best as possible with the tasks and jobs at hand. Use each opportunity as a learning and growth opportunity so it allows you go spaces and places you did not think you could venture to.

And realize while the size of your platform is important, the most important thing is realizing you have one. Use it to the best of your ability and help others do the same, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised on the good (and eventually great) things you’ll be able to do. These principles are ones I focus on and in using these with readers, students, and clients, help them to get where they are trying to go in their endeavors, goals, and larger aspirations.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media.

Wow, what a tool (LOL).

It’s an ever-evolving process as there are so many platforms to engage with your audience, and at times, it can overwhelm or under-impress (i.e. the audience who notes they won’t use it). Understand social media is not the only tool to connect and engage with people, but it can be an effective tool.

To date, my largest social media followings are on my author pages. What helps me grow is understanding who my core audience is and making sure my content aligns with them. As I’ve built my core audience, now it’s about being open to different methods to reach different people.

I’d say you have to start by identifying your audience and determining what consistency looks like for you (and them) for engagement, along with the kinds of things you post/share. Be balanced in that you do want to show what you do, but mix in some “humanity”. Show yourself having fun as well as working through a life challenge so it makes you be able to relate with multiple audiences. And use the platforms YOU feel comfortable with; you don’t have to use every platform, but use ones you feel you (and/or your team) can manage and utilize as soundly as possible.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One of the main things non-creatives (let’s reword that and say people who don’t delve into their creative or related tendencies to the depth and detail that you do) may have a challenge in understanding is what goes on thematically and what goes on in reality. What I mean by this is thematically, people understand the notion of working hard, working smart, learning more about your craft, taking time to make adjustments, and expand your reach/audience.

The real challenge is when YOU are doing the actual work.

People may not always understand that in working with students (including those online and in different time zones), you may have to work different hours than the standard 9 to 5 or 8-10 hour shift. It may be difficult on the press/media end that at times, you have to arrive hours before an event and leave hours after (let alone the writing and related work it takes to get an article done or if you are working with a client). On the author end, it’s more than just writing and putting a book online; there’s work that takes place from speaking at (and traveling to) festivals, meeting with bookstores, or doing interviews (LOL), as that’s part of what allows you to engage with people.

Yes, time and timing can be a factor, but these are things that come with the territory.

Just understand for creatives, entrepreneurs, and others who are doing their own thing, it just looks different than what others do, including you, but by the same token, what you may do on your day-to-day looks different from what others do. Take a moment to simply listen and lend the support you can. This, let alone ANY journey, is not always easy, but the rewards can be greater than what any of us can imagine.

Pause, plan, pray, and then proceed.

Contact Info:

• Website: asnortonccs.wixsite.com/authorpage
• Instagram: instagram.com/authorasnorton
• Facebook: facebook.com/authorasnorton
• Twitter: twitter.com/authorasnorton
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCU3lfUBAuUDkim2cg6PzB9g
• Other: amazon.com/author/authorasnorton asnortonccs.com instagram.com/asnortonccs twitter.com/asnortonccs https://youtube.com/channel/UCmirissSEw4FBWGt-FiFjUg facebook.com/asnortonccsllc statusnetwork.net/shows/conversation-corner/

Image Credits
Kris10 Media (profile/lead photo) EmoryRose Photography (for the photo of me throwing the ceremonial first pitch and with me and Rep Carolyn Bourdeaux/masked up)