The Author Guy Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve

23rd February 2024

Hello out there,

Welcome back. Last week, my son noted in an email reply to one of mine that he’d just noticed the hat in my signature line:

I replied that it was a component of my author “branding” but I had hoped it wouldn’t be so subtle as to go unnoticed by a family member for the better part of three years.

I am a proud member of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, an organization here in my home state dedicated to doing important charitable work for those less fortunate. To become a Colonel, one must be approved by the Secretary of State before the certificate is signed-off by the sitting governor. I’ve been a member since the mid-1980s, so my certificate was signed by the only woman governor in Kentucky’s history – Martha Lane Collins. All by way of explaining the hat is a Kentucky Colonel hat.

The Old English “G” (that also appears in my name on my book covers) holds special meaning to me because it’s how my late father signed his name. I recalled this uniqueness and have proudly incorporated it into my author branding.

One final bit of branding is the salutation I employ at the end of written correspondence:

Larry
The Author Guy

Simple explanation. I’ve gained a tad bit of recognition (dare I say, notoriety) in my hometown of Bowling Green due to my novels and my monthly newspaper column, and I have a rather unique last name. When I’m introduced to someone for the first time, the name recognition sometimes kicks in, and more than once I’ve heard, “Oh, you’re the author guy.” 

Until next week … Vaya con Dios

Larry B. Gildersleeve