Author branding can be an important part of marketing because it affects how readers perceive you and your work. Branding can include your messaging, colors, logo, genre, and more. Per Publicity Manager Elizabeth Hawkins, an author's branding must be authentic to be effective. She encourages authors to be true to who they are and to their story or messaging. In her role with W Publishing Group, a commercial nonfiction imprint of Thomas Nelson, Hawkins works with many nonfiction authors where the focus is on their personal story or message, which opens up doors when it comes to publicity. Media outlets, reviewers, and readers are drawn to honesty, and to authors whose branding is in alignment with the story or message they are sharing. She recommends authors understand what they want to deliver with their messaging, and be crystal clear with that in their branding.