Event Registration - St. Louis Forum
This event has completed.

Perspectives on Writing and Publishing Your Book
7/27/2023
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM CST

Event Description
If you’ve ever thought of authoring a nonfiction book but haven’t yet done it, then you won’t want to miss this event, "Perspectives on Writing and Publishing Your Book.” 

During this presentation, our panel of published authors, Jennnifer Bardot, Adrian Bracy, Betsy Cohen, and Nancy Erickson will discuss the details of writing and publishing a nonfiction book. 

Jennifer Bardot, author of the G.R.I.T. series of anthology books, will share about taking a small step to becoming an author by contributing to an anthology; Adrian Bracy will share her journey of being a chapter author in the G.R.I.T. series and then authoring a self-published book; Betsy Cohen will share her writing and publishing experience, and Nancy Erickson, owner of a nonfiction publishing house will discuss the framework for writing a nonfiction book and the requirements for acceptance by a professional publisher.

By the end of your lunch, you’ll know if writing a book is for you and what approach to take.

Jennifer Bardot, MA, MS

Jennifer Bardot, is a consultant for WTW St. Louis Office as a Health & Benefits producer. She is a Publisher, an author of “Deconstructing GRIT Collection” & “Owning Your G.R.I.T.” an international best-selling anthology both books can be found at Target, Wal-mart & Barnes and Noble. Passionate about helping people she has utilized her four anthologies to highlight over 200 women national and provides support to over 800 women in her women's group called GRIT Community.

She completed her BA in Business Administration, two master’s Degrees in Secondary Education Counseling and Private Practice Therapy, holds certificates in life in health, Dare to Lead Trained by Brene` Brown, Coro Women in Leadership Class 72 & Leadership St. Louis by Focus St. Louis. Jennifer was named top business banker six months into her banking career. Made the cover of St Louis Small Business Monthly as 2021’s Top 100 person to know to help grow, which was the first for any Enterprise Bank & Trust employee. Awarded President’s Circle by Enterprise Bank & Trust. Completed WTW's SheLeads Program. Awarded National Volunteer for Association of General Contractors of Missouri (AGCMO). As a servant leader she mentors for MentorUp at Lindenwood University, named a financial expert at Washington University, serves as a market insights expert for Maryville University and leads as Co-chair Community engagement committee for Fontbonne University. She passionate about people which is how she was lead to support CHRO's and companies with providing the benefits and offerings for their team members to feel heard and seen. She is a dedicated mother of three boys, a community connector, and outdoor adrenaline adventurer.

Adrian Bracy

Currently, Adrian is the Executive Director for a Family Office whose owner is Founder of a private enterprise with over $17B in sales domestic and internationally. Prior to this  role, Adrian led the YWCA Metro St. Louis a $30M nonprofit for nearly 12 years.

Prior to the YWCA, Adrian spent 18 years in senior financial management with the National Football League (The Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, and most recently CFO for the Arizona Cardinals).

Adrian has received numerous awards throughout her career including Black Enterprise 50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports; Black Enterprise 50 Most Powerful Women in Business; St. Louis Business Journal’s Most Influential Businesswomen.

Bracy graduated from Morgan State University in Baltimore with a degree in accounting and from Nova Southeastern University with a master’s in business administration. She is a lifetime member of the National Association of Black Accountants and the National Black MBA Association. She is a member of the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Board in St. Louis, Missouri Botanical Garden Sub-District Board, and a member of Edward Jones Investment Policy Advisory Council. Adrian is an Amazon Best-Selling Author.

Her book is entitled “Halftime: Learn to Pivot as a Leader and Identify Your Next Step.” Her book can be purchased at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at her website  www.adrianbracy.com.

Betsy Cohen

Betsy Cohen is the founding Executive Director of the St. Louis Mosaic Project, a program of the non-profit World Trade Center-St. Louis within the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership. The St. Louis Mosaic Project is a public-private partnership whose goal is to attract and retain international people to St. Louis. It began with research in 2012 and was launched in 2013. The research showed that the region needs international people for their skills and cultures, to add to our population and diversity. This work is done through collaborations with hundreds of local organizations, universities, corporations, cultural groups, faith organizations, K-12 schools, immigration agencies, and government entities. Goal: For the St. Louis region to be the fastest growing major metropolitan region for foreign-born people by 2025. This includes international students, immigrant entrepreneurs, reuniting families, international executives and refugees. 


​Betsy had an extensive corporate career in marketing at Nestle Purina before leading the St. Louis Mosaic Project. In her corporate career, she was one of the first women to be named a Vice President. She worked on national and international business issues. In addition, she ran a regional network for the St. Louis pet community.  She is on the advisory board for the St. Louis University Chaifetz School of Business, the external board for the Washington University McDonnell International Scholars Academy and on the Cortex Innovation Community committee for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. ​ She served on the board of Welcoming America, the national nonprofit leading a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs, including immigrants.  She was recognized as a Most Influential Businesswoman by the St. Louis Business Journal and as a Woman Business Leader by the YWCA.​ In 2021 she was recognized by NCCJ and in 2022 by Casa de Salud health center and Vitendo4Africa.  She is the author of a book that launched in 2021 to help international people who are authorized to work in the US to find good employment: “Welcome to the U.S.A.-You’re Hired! A Guide for Foreign-Born People Seeking Jobs”. She is a graduate of Wellesley College and has her MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Nancy Erickson

Nancy Erickson, The Book Professor® coaches women professionals to become authors of high-impact nonfiction books that will establish them as experts in their fields, increase their credibility, and help attract a following. She created a step-by-step method that takes you from your initial idea, to mapping, writing, and editing your book, to a professionally published nonfiction book. All you need is an idea to get started. 

Nancy owns two book-related businesses, The Book Professor® and Stonebrook Publishing, an award-winning nonfiction publishing house. In 2022, she was named a Top 10 Book Coach in the US by The Coach Federation, and she was recently named Non-Fiction Author Coach of the Year for 2023 by New World Report.