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A refined, minimalist still life captures the essence of an author’s journey to build a unique personal brand and connect with their readers.Oakland Today
Lisa Towles, an award-winning crime novelist and marketing expert, has published a new book called ‘The ME Factor: Your Secret Weapon for Author Visibility.’ The book provides a framework for authors to define their authentic positioning, build their brand, and reach their key readers – all while staying true to their unique identity. Unlike typical author marketing advice, Towles’ approach starts with the author’s own identity and voice as the foundation for visibility and success.
Why it matters
With millions of new books published each year, author promotion has become increasingly challenging. Many authors resort to tactics that require them to be someone they’re not, chasing trends and popularity rather than authenticity. Towles’ ‘ME Factor’ approach aims to empower authors to leverage their unique identity as their greatest competitive advantage in a crowded market.
The details
Towles, who has 14 published crime novels and 18 years of experience in corporate communications and marketing, has created a comprehensive system to help authors define their authentic positioning, build their brand, analyze their target audience, and develop a sustainable marketing strategy. The book is structured around five key sections in each chapter – What, Why, How, Calibration, and a Workroom – making the concepts accessible and actionable for authors. Towles’ dual identity as both a marketing strategist and a working crime novelist informs the practical, identity-first approach of ‘The ME Factor’.
The ME Factor was published on April 8, 2026.Towles has been a crime novelist for over 20 years.
The players
Lisa Towles
An Oakland-based crime novelist, marketing expert, and book coach. She holds an MBA in IT Management, has 18 years of Fortune 500 experience, and is the author of 14 award-winning thrillers. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
Indies United Publishing
The publisher of The ME Factor: Your Secret Weapon for Author Visibility.
Leo Bottary
Author of Peernovation 365, who praised Towles’ book as ‘pure gold.’
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What they’re saying
“Towles has created a system that helps authors understand who they are, what they offer, and why that matters. This book is pure gold.”
— Leo Bottary, Author of Peernovation 365
What’s next
The ME Factor is available now on Amazon and other major book retailers worldwide.
The takeaway
Towles’ ‘ME Factor’ approach provides authors with a much-needed framework to build authentic visibility and stand out in the crowded book market by leveraging their unique identity and voice, rather than resorting to generic tactics and trends.