The Texas Authors Museum & Institute of History (TAMIH) is dedicated to helping Texas authors promote their work, protect their creative freedom, and connect with readers across the state and beyond. Through membership programs, contests, festivals, publications, and advocacy, TAMIH offers a full range of services designed to strengthen authors’ visibility, credibility, and success.
Membership
TAMIH provides tiered membership opportunities tailored to fit every author’s needs. From free basic listings with photos and bios to advanced Authorpreneur packages with magazine features, monthly promotions, and event discounts, members receive tools and exposure that scale with their commitment. Low-income author grants ensure no writer is left behind.
Book Marketing & Contest Programs
Authors can elevate their visibility and credibility through TAMIH’s professional marketing services. The Best of Texas Book Awards celebrates outstanding works judged by librarians, while the Manuscript Mastery Assessment offers unpublished authors constructive feedback. Texas Authors Magazine provides both advertising space and feature opportunities, reaching readers and industry professionals alike.
ReadSafe Ratings Program
The ReadSafe Ratings system is TAMIH’s innovative defense against censorship and book bans. Authors can classify their books using a clear six-tier rating scale and optional content labels, signaling transparency while protecting their work. Affordable packages include digital badges, directory listings, stickers, press release templates, and social media spotlights. This program builds trust with librarians, educators, and readers while ensuring books remain accessible.
Publications & Media Exposure
Through Texas Authors Magazine, social media campaigns, newsletters, and video interviews, TAMIH gives authors consistent exposure across multiple platforms. Whether in print, online, or on screen, members benefit from features and spotlights that keep their names and works in front of new audiences.
Events & Festivals
TAMIH connects authors and readers through large-scale events like the Texas Author & Reader Con and the Lone Star Festival. These events include panels, book signings, performances, and vendor opportunities. TAMIH also sponsors themed short story contests and campaigns, offering authors the chance to gain recognition and be published in anthologies.
Sales & Retail Exposure (Coming Soon)
With the Texas Authors Online Bookstore and branded merchandise opportunities, TAMIH extends author visibility directly into the marketplace. These outlets give readers convenient access to Texas writers’ works while amplifying author presence beyond traditional sales channels.
Verified Texas Author Program (VTAP)
The Verified Texas Author Program (VTAP) is TAMIH’s answer to the chaos of AI, scams, and fake identities in publishing. VTAP verifies that a book’s primary creator is a real, human Texas author and confirms basic professional standards, giving librarians, bookstores, festivals, and readers confidence in who they’re supporting. Verified authors receive a VTAP seal for their books, directory recognition, and priority consideration for TAMIH programs and events. Over time, VTAP aims to become the gold-standard credential for authentic Texas authorship—making it easier for decision-makers to say “yes” to Texas books and harder for bad actors to crowd the shelves.
Texas Authors Press (TAP)
Texas Authors Press (TAP) is a mission-driven publishing house built by and for Texas authors, blending the best of traditional publishing with the museum’s educational and advocacy focus. TAP offers selective, contract-based publishing with real editorial guidance, professional production, and integrated marketing support—not pay-to-play packages. Every TAP title is tied back to the Texas Authors Museum through archiving, promotion, and long-term legacy planning, so an author’s work doesn’t just launch and vanish; it becomes part of Texas literary history. For qualified authors who want a serious partner, not a vanity press, TAP provides a clear path from manuscript to market backed by the credibility of TAMIH.
Manuscript Marketing Assessment
The Manuscript Marketing Assessment is designed to help Texas authors bridge the gap between “finished draft” and “market-ready book.” Instead of line-editing the prose, this program evaluates your manuscript’s marketability—identifying target audiences, genre fit, comparable titles, sales hooks, and core messaging. You receive feedback on your title, subtitle, back-cover copy, keywords, and positioning, along with practical recommendations for formats, pricing, launch timing, and marketing angles. The goal is simple: to help you turn a good manuscript into a book that actually moves in the marketplace, with a clear plan for how to present and sell it.
Community Outreach & Advocacy
TAMIH is committed to preserving and promoting Texas literature. Through partnerships with libraries, universities, bookstores, and literacy initiatives, the museum ensures authors remain visible and their stories accessible. With advocacy programs like ReadSafe Ratings, TAMIH defends creative freedom while fostering a stronger, more supportive literary community.
✨ TAMIH stands as both a guardian of Texas literary history and a champion for its living authors. By joining, you gain not only visibility and marketing tools but also a powerful ally in protecting your voice and amplifying your story.