"Literature cannot be the business of a woman's life, and it ought not to be."

This devastating response came from Poet Laureate Robert Southey in 1837 when a twenty-year-old Charlotte Brontë sent him a collection of her poetry, seeking guidance and encouragement.

Southey's dismissal wasn't just personal cruelty—it was the official position of the literary establishment.

But Charlotte Brontë didn't disappear. Instead, she did something revolutionary: she became Currer Bell.

When Lauren Roberts built her massive social media following before landing her traditional publishing deal with Simon & Schuster, she wasn't just marketing—she was surviving.

Roberts understood something that many authors miss: in an era where voices are systematically silenced and stories are under attack, professional author branding isn't about vanity or ego.

It's about ensuring your voice can't be erased.

Tamora Pierce published her first novel in 1983. Think about that for a moment—when many of today's debut authors were being born, Pierce was already building the foundation of a career that would span decades. What can her marathon approach teach authors just starting their sprint?

And while reading "Tempests and Slaughter," I dove into Tamora Pierce's online presence and realized — there’s a masterclass in author branding hiding in plain sight on her site. But here's the thing—most authors are missing this goldmine of inspiration sitting right under their noses.

There’s a reason all the biggest companies, influencers, and celebrities spend so much time, money, and effort developing their brand - they know their brand is the essence of how others will perceive them and their work. Your brand is what's going to resonate with your readers and create that connection between you and your audience