We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Michelle Jackson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Michelle below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

Each year thousands of manuscripts are self-published by authors who represent a more diverse group of writers than those represented by traditional publishing houses. Self-published authors lead the way in telling authentic stories that exemplify the creativity of writers struggling to have their voices heard. Now, more than ever, these authors are taking charge of their craft and owning their stories. Although this requires a great deal of time and money dedicated to book promotion, self-published authors are carving a lane in a highly trafficked publishing world that will leave a legacy for years to come.

Because of this trend, my latest business venture, Direct2Author.com (D2A), an online book marketplace, allows independent authors to promote their work to avid readers with a palate for well-written books by diverse writers. Authors can upload their books for free, receive one free promotion on D2A’s social media pages, and purchase discounted book marketing services. We are excited to announce that D2A has launched a Hire A Pro subscription-based platform for writing service professionals interested in promoting their work to independent authors. We are working hard to ensure that independent authors have the tools they need to successfully get their work into the marketplace.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an Author, Entrepreneur, and Nonprofit Director. I am the owner of PR Solutions LLC of Louisiana, a strategic marketing and corporate event planning firm, Direct2Author, and the i.Invest National Youth Business Competition. I am also the Executive Director of LifeSkills Foundation, a 501 c3 organization, and founder of the Black Writers Workspace, an online community comprised of over 13,500 writers and avid readers.

Although I am passionate about creative writing and entrepreneurship, my primary goal is to inspire Black creatives to go after their dreams and ensure that the literary world continues to tell stories seeded in the Black experience.

I self-published my first book, The Heart of a Man, a Christian fiction novel, in 2010. In 2014, the book was awarded a top prize in The Author’s Zone Annual Writer’s Competition, General Fiction Category. I am also the recipient of the Princeton Literary Review Gold Standard. My second novel, From Darkness to Night: Book One – Family Secrets, was released in 2020. It was selected as an Award-Winning Finalist in the American Book Fest’s Fiction: African-American category of the 2020 Best Book Awards. Also, recently the novel was added to the Broward Community College’s African-American literature curriculum. My third book, Poppi Makes Cajun Popcorn Magic: The 10-Step Guide to Building a Successful Food Startup, is the first in a series of comic books designed to teach youth about business development and entrepreneurship. The Poppi Book was recognized as a Finalist in the American Book Fest’s Fiction: Children’s Educational category of the 2022 Best Book Awards.

I have also written for The Mount Christian Lifestyle Magazine and had articles published in Essence Magazine, Biz Magazine New Orleans, Nia Magazine, CityBusiness New Orleans, and many other print and online publications. In 2020, I was selected as a Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Fellow. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of Alabama and a Master of Public Administration from Central Michigan University. I live in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

To launch Direct2Author.com, I had to unlearn the idea that self-published work isn’t valuable. All authors bring light into the literary world. When a story is told with authenticity and passion, it benefits everyone and gives voice to the voiceless. When I self-published my first book in 2010, I knew nothing about book publishing. I searched for resources online and made mistakes that cost me money. When I published my second book in 2020, just before COVID, I was more knowledgeable about the publishing process and wanted to share what I’d learned with others, so I started a private Facebook group, The Black Writers Workspace. What started out with only 15 writers now, three years later, have over 13,000 writers and avid readers involved. We host writing workshops, virtual and live book fairs, monthly roundtable discussions, and an annual writing competition. Our mission is to share resources, support each other and publish dynamic work. Direct2Author spun out of The Black Writers Workspace effort. It gives us a platform to feature books without competing against the millions of works found on online book distributors like Amazon. We are creating a space of our own – a home for great written works of art.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

I believe social media and email marketing are the best resources for new authors. We inspire our clients to strategically engage followers, share information, and partner with their peers to promote their work. The Black Writers Workspace has helped us stay connected with authors. Now, we host events, writing competitions, and monthly roundtable discussions designed to use our collective power to strengthen the Black literary world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.direct2author.com
• Instagram: To launch Direct2Author.com, I had to unlearn the idea that self-published work isn’t valuable. All authors provide a service to the community. When a story a told with authenticity and passion, it benefits everyone, and it gives voice to the voiceless. When I self-published my first book in 2010, I knew nothing about book publishing. I found myself searching for resources and making mistakes that cost me money. When I published my second book in 2020, just before COVID, I decided to also start a private Facebook group, The Black Writers Workspace. What started out with 15 writers now, three years later, has over 13,000 followers. We aim to share resources, support each other and publish dynamic work. Direct2Author was created as a result of The Black Writers Workspace.
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/direct2author/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Direct2Author
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvLTqx4GsQWed70-zOPDZTQ