Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ayanna T. Allegra W.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ayanna T., thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Allegra & Ayanna are the founders of Bourbon Street Bookers. These ladies are childhood friends, who reconnected as adults over their passion for reading. The love of reading was an immediate bond which has taken them on journeys they never knew possible. Their genuine sisterhood formed a supportive network for authors, aspiring authors, bloggers, podcasters and readers.
Recently, BSB added a valued face to be a part of this dynamic team, Terra. Terra connected with Allegra & Ayanna through the passion of reading as well. The connection was intense and authentic, there is no denying her place within this team. She’s the expert on audiobooks and adds just the right balance to BSB with a great eye for details.
Together, they aspire to sponsor literacy programs for the youth of New Orleans and local areas, in hopes of contributing to the support in development of reading skills at an early age. Targeting youth will aid in children learning to read, comprehend, and remain motivated, as well as being confident in their reading ability.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Bourbon Street Bookers was established in November 2020, in the heart of the pandemic. It is an online community of avid readers, authors, and bloggers. We are huge supporters and fans of Black Indie Authors. Our decision to start BSB is a nod to the simple things we love in life: sipping our spirits, NOLA, and reading! We’re just a couple of women that bonded over books and are aiming to connect to like hearted souls.
We host book discussions, interview authors, provide book reviews, promote authors and their catalog, encourage reading, as well as, provide a safe non-judgmental space for healthy connections to like-minded individuals. The books discussed and read all range from spiritual inspirational to urban fiction. Readers of diverse genres welcome and engage readers and authors, on several social media platforms, our website, Big Beads and Reads Newsletter, sent to subscribers monthly with recommendations of audiobooks and books for children, young adults, & adults.
We’re unique in our approach to accept everyone, while remaining true to our culture, mission and purpose. We’re most proud of our ongoing growth and support. BSB joins readers with amazing authors that often are never heard of in the literary world. We’ve been nominated amongst our peers in the literary community for Best Black Book Club and awarded a Beacon Award in 2021.
BSB has partnered and promoted several other amazing book clubs that are interested in seeing Black Authors and Narrators succeed in this literary world, where too often, opportunity is not equitable. Authors and readers alike have sung praises of the excellent work and love that is poured from the efforts of BSB.
We welcome and look forward to our continued growth in the literary community!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Relationships were formed through connections in several Facebook Literary Groups. There was a constant number of members that would be in these groups and overtime shared opinions or expressed strong opposition, allowing for great discussion. Sometimes intense and often times, hilarious! The commonality was in love of authors’ work like Love Belvin, Christina C. Jones, Nako, Millie Belizaire, Chelsea Maria, Rae Lyse, Chare Lewis, Natavia, Ralph Edgerson, and so many more!
To anyone starting to build their social media presence, I would advise that you remain true to yourself! It’s so easy to conform to grow followers, but they don’t remain or won’t actively engage. Consistently being authentic, standing on your beliefs, values and morals, will connect you with individuals you can teach, learn from, inspire, and genuinely support you.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
The reputation of BSB was built by networking with readers, authors, and other book club founders. Additionally, we used our voice and platforms, to create a safe space for authors and avid readers to unapologetically express themselves, with acceptance.
“If you know anything about NOLA, the vibe is always electric, fun, & of course naughty…That’s BSB!”, is how Author Tiye Love describes what BSB is like with their members. Author Love Belvin, a BSB fav was recorded saying, “I am truly loving you guys’ presence in the lit community! Several readers trust our book reviews and recommendations for great reads.
They keep them coming back and bringing others with them! Knowing that BSB provides this service in support of seeing others win and not to profit, our opinions are considered candid and reliable.
Contact Info:
- Website: bourbonstreetbookers.com
- Instagram: @bourbonstreetbookers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1212130235812014/
- Twitter: @BourbonStBooker
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8NaZq_dqr2PLLiX_RPuCcA
Image Credits
Bourbon Street Bookers are the owners of the images provided.