Let’s face it: The publishing industry reflects the same economic divide we see everywhere else. The rich and famous receive substantial advances, national interviews, and prime shelf space. The rest of us? We’re bootstrapping book tours, setting up folding tables in the corner of a bookstore, and hoping someone picks up a copy. This isn’t just about books. It’s about art, access, and whose voices get heard. The creative economy has its own top 1%. So if you're tired of seeing the same celebrity memoirs dominate the conversation, you can do something about it: support local authors. Champion the storytellers in your own backyard.