How do you juggle the demands of running a PR firm, writing children's books, and being a mother? Our guest shares her unique journey from practicing law to becoming a children’s book author and starting her own PR firm.We welcome Alysson Bourque—a multi-faceted entrepreneur who wears many hats as an author, publicist, attorney, and teacher. This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started.Alysson, co-owner of Expound Publicity, a PR firm launched during the pandemic, has successfully helped over 500 authors market their books. Her firm provides comprehensive services, from publicity and customized campaigns to virtual book tours and awards submissions. Growing up in a small town in Louisiana, Alysson was inspired by her entrepreneurial parents who owned a pharmacy. Her journey took her from considering a career in pharmacy to becoming a lawyer, and eventually finding her true calling in storytelling. Her firsthand experience with government workings during Hurricane Katrina and her passion for writing both played pivotal roles in her professional evolution.A dedicated mom, Alysson involves her children in her literary pursuits to instill resilience and the value of hard work. Her book series, *Alley Cat*, aims to make reading fun for kids, with interactive author visits, engaging promotional materials, and a vision to become a household name in children's literature.Empowering TakeawaysAlysson Bourque and her partner started Expound Publicity, a PR firm for authors, during the pandemic. Expound Publicity offers comprehensive support including customized marketing campaigns, outreach to media and bookstores, award submissions, and even virtual book tours, providing a one-stop shop for authors' publicity needs.Bourque shares her approach to parenting by supporting her daughter's entrepreneurial ambitions and her son's dream of becoming a professional golfer, emphasizing the importance of following one's passions.Alysson has experience in various publishing routes including self-publishing, hybrid publishing, and traditional publishing. Her persistence through rejections ultimately led to securing a traditional publisher for her series.Bourque skillfully merges her family and professional life, from taking her family on business-related trips to involving her children in her writing process, teaching them resilience and hard work along the way.Empowering Moments05:30 Parents started in pharmacy, business grew.12:52 Striving for uniqueness against the mainstream.16:48 Discovering talent for writing through unexpected inspiration.18:05 Handwritten story written in an hour.23:00 Chose writing over law, pursued traditional publishing.26:10 Author juggles book tour with family schedules.27:32 Author facilitates book marketing and virtual visits.32:39 Children pursuing careers that make them happy.35:46 Creative repetition brings fresh excitement every time.39:05 My superpower is being empathetic and self-evaluative.Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to