'I just happen to be an author'

 

“My jobis essentially that of an entertainer, no different to that of a musician, nodifferent to that of an actor. I just happen to be an author.” – BryceCourtenay 
Courtenay was born this date in 1933 and became one ofAustralia's best-selling authors, although most of his fame came from hisSouth African-based book The Power of One.   Published in 1989 and  - despite Courtenay's fearsthat it would never sell - The Power ofOne quickly became one of Australia's best-selling books by any livingauthor. The story also was released as a film and in a children'sedition.
The author of 23 books, Courtenaywas a careeradvertising director and helped build his own success by developing a relationship with readers as much asby marketing his books.  For instance, he gave away up to 2,500 books eachyear to readers he met in the street.
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Courtenay, who died in 2012, wrote many his works from first personnarrative allowing the reader to put himself or herself into the lead role.  “Ilike to share my thoughts and perspectives,” he said.  “And remember, the only thing that's authentic aboutwhat a writer writes is his work. Everything else belongs to us all.”