Some writers inherit stories long before they ever lift a pen. Michael Travis stepped into authorship with a burden carried across borders, deserts, and decades. His book, El Gancho, drew breath from real ground, real struggle, and the long shadows cast by Porfirio Diaz’s Mexico. Prudenciano Nava’s journey into the United States, full of hardship, courage, temptation, and resolve, came alive through Michael’s careful research and personal respect for the families touched by that history.
Michael never approached his subject as a myth or adventure. He treated it as a life lived by a man caught between survival and hope. He dug through records, walked communities where the echoes of old stories still linger, and listened to descendants who carry memories in pieces—some spoken freely, some held close. His work offers no easy heroes and no polished villains. It offers humanity in its rough, honest form.
Many readers discover their own grandparents or great-grandparents in Prudenciano’s journey. They see echoes of sacrifice, migration, and the deep desire for a safer life. Others see how injustice shapes ordinary people, pushing them to choices outsiders seldom understand. The story stirs conversations about ancestry, faith, grit, and the cost of leaving home behind. Nothing in Michael’s rendering feels forced. His commitment to truth gave the story its weight.
The Power of Authors shines in moments like this—when a writer chooses to carry someone’s history with dignity. Stories grounded in real struggle can reach hearts faster than speeches or lectures. They offer insight wrapped in humanity. They ask readers to look inward before casting judgment. They remind us that compassion grows when we see the faces behind historic events rather than only dates on a page.
During many years of publishing voices from Alaska and beyond, I have witnessed readers bond with authors who honor lived stories. Whether those stories rise from disability, hardship, migration, redemption, or survival, readers keep returning to writing rooted in truth. They know sincerity when they see it. They sense when an author respects the people involved. Michael’s work carries that same signature—care, humility, and reverence for the experience given to him.
The Power of Authors continues with this reminder: writers shape understanding when they honor the real lives inspiring their work. They widen the imagination while deepening empathy. They connect generations through shared struggle. They preserve voices others might overlook. Quiet hands carrying heavy history often reveal more of our common humanity than any headline or slogan ever will.
The Power of Authors: A Rallying Cry for Today’s Writers to Recognize Their Power, Rise to Their Calling, and Write with Moral Conviction. The book is available on Amazon: http://bit.ly/3K6o8AM. If you’d like an autographed copy, you can order it here: http://bit.ly/4pgmzjM.
Author Campaign Method (ACM) for Authorpreneurs
This is Publication Consultants’ motivation for constantly striving to assist authors sell and market their books. Author Campaign Method (ACM) of sales and marketing is Publication Consultants’ plan to accomplish this so that our authors’ books have a reasonable opportunity for success. We know the difference between motion and direction. ACM is direction! ACM is the process for authorpreneurs who are serious about bringing their books to market. ACM is a boon for them.
Release Party
Web Presence
Book Signings
Amazon Author Page
Facebook Profile and Facebook Page
Active Social Media Participation
Ebook Cards
The Great Alaska Book Fair: October 8, 2016
Costco Book Signings
eBook Cards
Benjamin Franklin Award
Jim Misko Book Signing at Barnes and Noble
Cortex is for serious authors and will probably not be of interest to hobbyists. We recorded our Cortex training and information meeting. If you’re a serious author, and did not attend the meeting, and would like to review the training information, kindly let us know. Authors are required to have a Facebook author page to use Cortex.
Correction:
We take the quote by Marcella Smith, Small Press Business Manager, Barnes & Noble seriously: “The author is essential to the success of the book, giving energy behind the book to make it something that a customer will come in and ask for. That is what makes the difference in a book that sells, that develops legs, and has a life of its own. Otherwise the book goes on the shelf and stays there for three months. Then it gets returned.”
This is Publication Consultants’ motivation for constantly striving to assist authors sell and market their books. ACM is Publication Consultants’ plan to accomplish this so that our authors’ books have a reasonable opportunity for success. We know the difference between motion and direction. ACM is direction! ACM is the process for authors who are serious about bringing their books to market. ACM is a boon for serious authors, but a burden for hobbyist. We don’t recommend ACM for hobbyists.
We’re the only publisher we know of that provides authors with book signing opportunities. Book signing are appropriate for hobbyist and essential for serious authors. To schedule a book signing kindly go to our website, <
An Author Page on Amazon Author Central is a serious author ACM requirement and desirable for the hobbyist. Author Central is a free resource designed to help authors become more active participants in the promotion of their books. In Author Central you can manage an Author Page, update information about your books, and view Customer Reviews and sales information for your bibliography. If you don’t already have an Author Page on 
We hear authors complain about all the personal stuff on Facebook. Most of these complaints are because the author doesn’t understand the difference difference between a Facebook profile and a Facebook page. Simply put, a profile is for personal things for friends and family; a page is for business. If your book is just a hobby, then it’s fine to have only a Facebook profile and make your posts for friends and family; however, if you’re serious about your writing, and it’s a business with you, or you want it to be business, then you need a Facebook page as an author. It’s simple to tell if it’s a page or a profile. A profile shows how many friends and a page shows how many likes. Here’s a link <> to a straight forward description on how to set up your author Facebook page.
Active Social Media Participation
Mosquito Books has a new location in the Anchorage international airport and is available for signings with 21 days notice. Jim Misko had a signing there yesterday. His signing report included these words, “Had the best day ever at the airport . . ..”
The Lyin Kings: The Wannabe World Leaders
Time and Tide
ReadAlaska 2014
Readerlink and Book Signings
2014 Independent Publisher Book Awards Results
Bonnye Matthews Radio Interview
Rick Mystrom Radio Interview
When he published those overseas blogs as the book The Innocents Abroad, it would become a hit. But you couldn’t find it in bookstores.
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Mary Ann Poll
Bumppo
Computer Spell Checkers
Seven Things I Learned From a Foreign Email
2014 Spirit of Youth Awards
Book Signings
Blog Talk Radio
Publication Consultants Blog
Book Signings
Don and Lanna Langdok
Ron Walden
Book Signings Are Fun
Release Party Video
Erin’s book, 
Heather’s book, 
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