1. Focused on helping authors and creative individuals elevate their work, Black Château offers a holistic mix of
online publicity services designed by Duffy. The goal is simple, to give talented individuals and exceptional
brands the exposure they deserve with flexible, creative strategies that deliver results.
As an author, Duffy saw many opportunities for improvement in the world of online marketing for authors as
she promoted her own book. She quickly discovered that traditional publishers frequently offer little
support for new authors, and indie authors and small press often become overwhelmed by the ever-
changing landscape of digital marketing, social media, and online PR. By combining her many years of
marketing knowledge with her first-hand experience in publishing, she crafted an online marketing
methodology unlike any other digital agency.
The novel Oubliette—A Forgotten Little Place, published by Black Château and under Duffy’s nom de plume,
Vanta M. Black, won the award for general fiction in the Southern California Book Awards. It also took top
honors in the Halloween Book Fest Awards, was one of three runners up in the Authors Talk About it Horror
Novel Awards, was among the honorees at the 2016 Hollywood Book Festival Awards as the top honorable
mention in the Wild Card category, and it is a Five-Star recipient from Reader’s Favorite.
Personal professional recognitions for Duffy include: a Genii Award for Excellence in New Media in 2017, a
nomination for the 2016 Los Angeles Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards, and the Marketer of
the Year Award during the Future of Digital Media Conference in 2015. She was also instrumental in
procuring iF Design Awards, Red Dot Awards, Creativity International Awards, plus AWRT Bell Awards for
Best Programming, Best Website, and Best Public Relations Campaign.
During her early career, Duffy was a radio host, program director, producer, and marketing professional with
companies including, but not limited to, the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, iHeartMedia’s KFI-AM,
and ABC’s and Disney’s ESPN Radio/Radio Disney/KABC-AM/KLOS-FM. Since 2001 she served in roles for the
Alliance for Women in Media’s Southern California Affiliate and National Headquarters, including: President,
Western Area Director, Vice President of Programming, and Advisory Board chair. Duffy has a love for
science and technology. She is honored to have supported organizations like XPRIZE as a Vanguard, the
L.E.A.F. Foundation as a member of the Board of Directors, the Lifeboat Foundation as an advisory board
member, and Digital Hollywood by sitting on the Women in Technology and Entertainment Summit’s Board
of Advisors.
Duffy is a graduate of Marian University, and also attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. She
holds Bachelor of Science degrees in English and communication, and an associate degree in art. She also
earned a certificate in Ecommerce Business from Santa Clarita’s College of the Canyons. She lives in
Southern California with her husband and two pug-mixes, Spike and Teddy Bear.
Bio for Desireé Duffy
Desireé Duffy is a marketer, writer, media expert, and Founder of
Black Château Enterprises. She chair’s AWM SoCal’s Advisory
Board, and contributes to Equities.com where she writes about
technology and digital media.
With a background in digital marketing as the Vice President of
the online marketing agency, R6S, as well as over fifteen years of
experience as a marketing and public relations professional in
consumer goods, non-profits, and entertainment industries,
Duffy’s passions are combined to create Black Château—a digital
marketing agency specializing in authors, books and small press.