Hey fam, it's Kelly — indie author, publisher, and host of BTA Fridays™ – Breaking the Algorithm™.

I’m also Kelly Morgan, Owner & CEO of Bright Headed Publishing, and this is your no-fluff how-to guide for showing up with intention during Black History Month (and honestly, any cultural moment where attention is already flowing).

Black History Month can bring a spike in attention—but the real opportunity for indie authors isn’t “posting for the month.” It’s showing up with purpose during a cultural moment when readers, book clubs, podcasts, bookstores, and libraries are already paying attention and actively looking for stories that add something real.

YouTube episode referenced in this post: https://youtu.be/8lQz9-9u33w

Step 1: Shift your mindset—this is a moment, not a theme

If you’ve ever felt awkward about Black History Month marketing, you’re not alone. A lot of authors worry it’ll come off performative—or they freeze and say nothing at all.

Here’s the anchor to come back to:

• A theme is decorative. “It’s February, so let me slap a BHM graphic on this post.”
• A moment is conversational. “People are already talking about Black stories—what does my book genuinely contribute?”

When you treat Black History Month as a moment, you stop trying to force relevance and start participating with purpose.

Step 2: Tie your book to a real angle (not just the calendar)

Instead of “It’s Black History Month, here’s my book,” give readers a real reason to lean in.

Choose an angle that already exists inside your story, such as:

• Identity
• Family
• Resilience
• Belonging
• Joy
• Grief
• Coming-of-age
• Community

Write your messaging from the angle—not from the month.

How-to prompt:
“I wrote this book for readers who are navigating ______.”
“This story explores ______ in a way I don’t see often.”
“The question at the center of my book is ______.”

Step 3: Share your origin story (the “why this story mattered” part)

People connect to meaning, not marketing.

Your origin story doesn’t have to be dramatic—it just has to be honest. The goal is to help readers understand why the story exists and why it matters to you.

Ask yourself:

• What did I need when I wrote this?
• What lived experience shaped this story?
• What part of me is on the page?

How-to prompt:
“I wrote this because ______.”
“I needed a story where ______.”
“I wish I had read a book like this when ______.”

That’s the stuff that builds trust and makes people want to share your work.

Step 4: Build a 4-part content mini-series (so you’re not scrambling)

If you want consistent content without burnout, don’t wing it day-by-day. Create a mini-series you can run across social, email, blog posts, or short-form video.

Here’s a simple 4-part series you can batch in one sitting:

1. What does my book add to the conversation?
2. What truth does it say out loud?
3. Who did I write it for?
4. What do I hope readers carry with them?

How to use it (practical):

• Turn each question into one post + one email paragraph.
• End every piece with the same one-link call to action (more on that below).
• If you’re doing video, record all four clips back-to-back in one session.

Step 5: Collaborate with other indie authors (community beats the algorithm)

Algorithms love isolation. Community breaks that.

Partner with other indie authors in ways that feel natural and mutually supportive:

• Story swaps: You share their book with a real “why,” they do the same for yours.
• Joint posts: Same prompt, different books (“What truth does your book say out loud?”)
• Mini-roundups: 3–5 indie books that add to the conversation, with a short line about each.

How-to tip: Keep it specific. “Here are 4 indie books about Black joy and complicated family dynamics” will travel further than “Support Black authors!”

Step 6: Pitch spaces that already care about Black stories

Stop trying to convince random people to care. Go where the care already exists.

During Black History Month, pitch:

• Book clubs selecting BHM reads
• Podcasts that center Black stories and Black creators
• Bookstores running BHM displays/events
• Libraries hosting community programming

How-to pitch angle (simple script):
“Hi [Name], for Black History Month I’d love to be considered for [interview/event/book club Q&A]. My book [Title] explores [angle] and would be a great fit for listeners/readers who care about [topic]. I can provide a discussion guide and join for a virtual Q&A.”

This is one of the fastest ways to “break the algorithm” because it moves your visibility into real communities—not just your feed.

Step 7: Make your call to action painfully simple (one link)

If you give people five options, they pick none.

Choose one primary action per campaign:

• Buy the book
• Visit your book page
• Join your newsletter
• Download a reader freebie

Then use one link everywhere.

How-to tip: Put the same link in:

• Your bio
• Your pinned post
• Your email signature
• Your post captions
• Your pitch emails

Clarity increases clicks. Period.

Step 8: Use your book as a conversation starter (ask better questions)

If you want engagement that leads to real readers, stop posting only announcements. Ask questions that invite people to participate.

Try:

• “What’s a book that helped you feel seen?”
• “What family story do you wish someone would write?”
• “What’s a truth you had to learn the hard way?”
• “What topic do you want fiction to tackle more honestly?”

How-to tip: When people answer, respond like a human. That’s how community forms—and community is the marketing channel you actually control.

Final note: If it doesn’t fit your book, don’t force it

If your book doesn’t naturally connect to Black History Month, don’t twist yourself into a pretzel trying to make it relevant.

You can still support the moment by:

• Amplifying Black authors you love
• Buying and reviewing indie Black books
• Attending events and sharing interviews
• Recommending podcasts and book clubs doing the work

Supporting in other ways is still participation—and it’s still impact.

Quick link “laundry list”

• Be a guest: https://brightheadedpublishing.com/be-a-guest
• Free guide: https://brightheadedpublishing.com/free-guide
• Support the books: https://brightheadedpublishing.com/books
• Join IRS (Indie Reader Society Book Club): https://brightheadedpublishing.com/irs
• TrustBridge Series details: https://brightheadedpublishing.com/trustbridge