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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #106 January 22, 2020
Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue
      
1. February program … organizing and revamping the business of authoring and publishing

2. Author Tools … Discover BackUp Buddy

3. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit …Meet F + P Design

4. Webinar … Ask Judith Anything on February 12th

5. Hot podcasts for JANUARY … Add to your calendar

    6. Question of the Week … Do I really need an ISBN?
         Where to get?

   7. Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week … Parrot takes on Alexa

This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s Roof:

Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU.


Loved seeing a few more books move to print this week for authors. Are you a giver or a taker? Bravo to Pat Morgan for We Hardly Knew Them (already 250 preorders in) and to Sonja Wendt for I’m Not a Weed! and Can Old Be Beautiful? both in the "done" files.

And Always an interesting question. At the monthly AuthorYOU Salons, the majority take … and give back. The Lookie-Lous and Louises come, eat the food, drink the coffee, take, and don’t give back. Here’s the new policy starting in 2020 for the SALONS:

Beginning in 2020, the AuthorYOU Salons is a perk for the www.AuthorYOU.org paid up VIP Membership. A newbie can attend ONCE as a "look-see-experience" for free--post that meeting, he or she must be a member of AuthorYOU.org. Go to the AuthorYOU website and join as a VIP member.

What is AuthorYOU.org? A community of authors who are moving into the "next step" with a goal to be seriously successful. It provides regular educational meetings, mini Author Extravaganzas, weekly how to blogs, weekly podcast, free members only webinars to a variety of publishing services that others need, summer BBQ, Author Tea in the fall to sell books at, and our annual Holiday schmooze to wrap up the year. AuthorYOU is an advocate for the author.

Renewals have gone out this month for AuthorYOU. Have you done yours yet? If you don’t renew by the end of the month, you will be blocked from discounts forward and of course, be removed as a member. Registration for any events forward will range from $10 to up to $100 more or elimination from the free ones. There is also a reinstatement fee for uploaded you to various access lists.
Loved celebrating client Jeanine Childer’s glorious 88th birthday this week with 50 or her neighbors and friends—what an amazing life JC has traveled over her many years!
WOOT WOOT WOOT … I’m on a jet plane in THREE days … looking forward to 80-degree weather for sure. With me are two books to work on for authors while I’m gone.  

And, here’s a new link to the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast SHOW page. You can select which podcast is for you from over 300 shows … the latest will always be posted on top: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

Starting to think ahead of for the first Unplugged of the year: it’s Speaking, Speaking, Speaking—get the details here and come to Denver and spend two awesome days with me. http://bit.ly/Unplugged-Speaking . Come … it’s fun and lots of take-aways. Alumni always get a discount.

 
Add these to your calendar now. Details will all be posted under the Events tab on the website.




1. February 7 – Author Friday on site Program – The Business of Authoring and Publishing

2. February 8 - AuthorYOU Salons from 8.30 to 11.30 at Judith’s home, Casa Quatar

3. February 12 – Ask Judith Anything webinar – register online … the mic will be open!



The FEBRUARY Saturday AuthorYOU Salon will be held Saturday, February 8th – if you are an AuthorYOU.org member join me at my home—we call it Casa Quatar! All start at 8.30 am —we’ve moved the time up by popular demand!

The AuthorYOU Salons
if you are in Colorado—come for coffee or tea … it’s on me. It’s a perfect way to start your Saturday for author savvy and know-how.

Details HERE.  
https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/events/260321129/

 
Want Tips for Authoring and Publishing? Tomorrow on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, Joan Stewart and I dig into how to avoid the book publicist from Hell—oh my!
 
 
JOIN the new AuthorYOU …

If you don’t, it’s a publishing boo-boo. AuthorYOU promises its members a lot and delivers more. And wait ‘til you see the bundle of goodies and discounts we are starting to post on the website for Members only. All will be up before the end of the month. Yup, it’s a good idea. Not a paid-up member?

JOIN AuthorYOU today. https://mp.gg/e9d1o
And a heads up—hold the FIRST Saturday of each month for our live event meetings—

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FEBRUARY 7, 2020 …  It’s a Friday afternoon …
we couldn’t get a site to hold our gathering for Saturday AM this month

Organizing and Revamping the Business of Authoring and Publishing
Most authors all right-brainers. We like sharing our wisdom from years of experience and insights peppered with real life situations and events that connect with our readers. We write and publish to resolve their pain and provide solutions. We love the creativity of writing, building a character who may be a bit of an oddball and dropping in unexpected twists in plot.

Your Author Kingdom is a business … yes, yes, it is. Is there nutsiness to it? Maybe a bit of insanity? Yes, yes there is. Can you blink it away? Nope … you need some strategies to bring saneness and organization to you from the get-go.

Soooooo … are you hoping for the Business Fairy to fly in and deal with this side of your life? Stop hoping … we are going to help you out with answers to questions and beyond.

Oh-Oh … you are already writing, publishing, and selling books. Is it too late? You may be past the get-go. Good news: there is always a starting point, a review point, a makeover point. We will take you there and beyond.

In the BEGINNING, do you know:
~ What websites should you have?
~ When do you register with the State—do you need to?
~ What reports do you need to file?
~ What’s the best way to keep records?
~ What deductions are legit?
~ What taxes do you need to collect?
~ What licenses do you need?
~ If you put all charges on a credit card, do you need the receipts?
~ How should you file your sales tax?
~ If you ONLY sell wholesale on Amazon, do you need a sales tax license?
~ Should you charge sales tax if you sell out of state?
~ You need help on accounting … what should you use?
~ Should your publishing company be a sole proprietorship, an LLC or corporation?

What about ORGANIZATION … like your computer?
~ Do you ever lose files?
~ Want some awesome tips of organizing your writing? Your pictures? Your blogs? Your what?
~ How do you keep creating new material?
~ What file folders should be the minimum?

Postcards (quotes, book comparisons, presale, social media (twitter posts, LinkedIN articles, Instagram), Inventory, One page (author, book, speaker, trainer, coach), expenses, revenue, audio books advertising, eBook audiobooks , paperback advertising, interview questions, office equipment, book drafts, research, local press contacts (weekly paper, TV)

And MORE … we will talk about them all!

Answers are here. You should be too! And, bring your questions. This is a Q & A format.

Drs. Ron Beach and Judith Briles along with CPA Pat Comiskey are your guides.

EARLY BIRD ends on January 31 ... price will increase $10 forward


When
: Friday, February 7, 2020

Where: Smokey Hill Library, 5430 S Biscay Circle, Centennial, CO  80015

Time: Noon to 4

Cost:  $25 for AuthorYOU members, $35 for Nonmembers. Price increases $ 10 on December 31st.

Register: https://authoru.org/events.html


2 Author Tools – Discover BackupBuddy
If you have a WordPress website, tap into this nifty plugin to backup and restore your site… very cool.

Every author’s nightmare is to be attacked and hacked via their website. If you aren’t backing up your site on a regular basis (I do it daily), it’s time to change your ways. BackupBuddy may be your new best friend—with just a few clicks, all your data and images including comments, subscribers, users, categories, and more are captured. Pretty cool in my book. Plus, if you are switching host providers, click away and you’ve got it. It’s a good resource to know about. Per year, the cost is $48 to backup one site, $76 for up to ten. https://ithemes.com/backupbuddy/

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VIP AuthorYOU Benefit
Discover F + P Graphic Design and Rebecca Finkel
970.223-1375  |   
Rebecca@fpgd.com  | fpgd.wordpress.com

Under Rebecca’s eye and skillset, nationally and regionally recognized, award-winning book covers and interior designs are created along with eBooks, interactive Inkling books, book trailers and book promotional material. She works closely with authors to create a unique book integrating text, photos, and graphics and completes projects on time and on budget.

4 Ask The Book Shepherd ANYTHING about book publishing & book marketing!
 
Wednesday, February 12 at NOON Mountain time.

Ask Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, ANYTHING about Book Publishing and Book Marketing - for 90 Minutes!

Join us for a webinar on February 12, 2020 at 12:00 PM CST.


Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4092444255458458113


join me on Wednesday, February 12th … you ask her any question you have about book publishing, book marketing, writing a book ... or just getting a "little juice" to start your engines and create the Vision for 2020.

Who’s Dr. Judith Briles? Let’s start with this: she has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She’s knowledgeable and entertaining and has personally authored 37 books that have been translated to 17 languages in earned over 30 national book awards; sold a combined 1,000,000 copies; and generated in excess of $5,000,000 in revenues from combined book sales and speaking fees. As an advocate for authors, Judith knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent/self sides. She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Radio Network that generates 30,000 to 100,000 downloads a month and is the Founder of AuthorYOU.org and the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame.

Judith knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. She is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

Post your questions as soon as you come on ... Judith will come to you LIVE and bring you on the mic to respond to YOU and possibly ask additional questions.

It's 90 minutes to hone in your 2020 vision for author and publishing success (or deal with the 2019 leftovers!).


Webinar REPLAYS

Get Ready to Grab the Media’s Attention

Do you want to jump-start YOU as an author expert, YOUR book and YOUR publishing business in 2020?  Bet you do. Make sure you register for my first webinar of the new year in this new decade.

A good public relations campaign is an important part of getting found and known as an expert. Today, putting your PR online is essential to online marketing success and a key factor in improving your search engine optimization results. Your online PR creates links to your content, awareness of your brand, and helps build your reputation – all essentials for today’s successful authors.

- You will get: Ideas for content authors can use, from News Releases to Newsjacking

- Six methods for pushing your content online to get found (one requires only 7 keystrokes)

- How inbound links are still one of the key SEO tools, and how you can choose 39 topics that link from tens of thousands of other ExpertClick press room and news releases to your press room, and then link to promote your website.

Replay: https://vimeo.com/384983735

Slaying the Amazon Marketing Ad Dragon December 5th Replay
Have you ever wondered ...?


Have you ever wondered ...?
·How can I focus on writing and publishing instead of constantly promoting my books?

· How can I get consistent sales of full-priced books full-priced just short-term spikes during promotions?

· How can my book stand out when there are SO many competing books on Amazon and it feels like pulling teeth to get sales?

· How do I get reviews and build my audience FAST if I'm starting from scratch?

· Where can I outsource the work I don't want to do?



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Hot podcasts slated for this month
You can always listen in via our websites: www.AuthorYOU.org  (click on the On the Air image on the Home page—wait for it to upload. Or
www.TheBookShepherd.com (click on the Resources tab).

January 2How to Convert Your Expertise to the Kids Market – Lisa Reinicke

January 9 Essential Publishing Success Tools – Judith Briles

January 16Working with Literary Agents – Sandra BondWhy and How to Collaborate with a Publicist - Joan Stewart

January 23– For Book PR – Questions that Most Publicists Will Ask – Joan Stewart

January 30 - How to Use Ads in Your Marketing – Penny Sansevieri


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Questions of the Week:


Question: Where do I get ISBNs? And, do I need them?

Answer: It depends—where are you? Some ISBNs are free—some have a fee. It depends on which country you live in.

In the US, go to MyIdentifiers.com, run by Bowker, the only company that is authorized to administer ISBNs. You can purchase one or in bulk of 10, 100 or 1000. The more you get, the less it is. Suggestion: get 10. While ISBNs are assigned within a country, you can use them internationally.
The other question is should you have one? My answer—absolutely yes.


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Book Shepherd "Fun" or an "Uh-Oh" of the Week

Love it when I find a fun shorty—a quick smile, a laugh out loud, a sip of tea … and back to work—perfect. Love this: Petra the parrot has a few words with virtual assistant Alexa

Get your copy today – Available in Print, eBook, Audiobook  http://bit.ly/1000000speech
You can pick my brain … minimum time is 30 minutes. If you need one-on-one-time with me, I’m always open for a few minutes to give you some quick input. But, and it’s a BIG BUT, many call and expect far more than a few minutes.

This is called a "consult" and I would be delighted to schedule time with you for "just you and your many questions" that need answers. You can book time with me it at: https://thebookshepherd.com/pick-judiths-brain


Author Friendly Friday this week …

Join Author Friendly Fridays: a fun, sharing and a dynamic closed group. You can join in the next week. It’s a full hour when you can ask questions—any question. And, I always include a few strategies to get your authoring life ahead of the competition.

It’s for paid subscribers ONLY and we do it on Zoom.


This is how each call starts: I share a few strategies, tips and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. Definitely an excellent way to start a Friday. Those of you who aren’t participating, you are making a mistake. I love the variety of books and authors who have chosen to participate. What’s also fun, is the energy that can be felt with what everyone is working on. Love it!

Here’s the link to take advantage of it and subscribe: https://thebookshepherd.com/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription  

Podcast expands to 7 networks … Follow us and learn …
new shows every Thursday.

GO to the SHOW page and select which podcast is for you… the latest will always be posted on top: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast


And, if you have listened, support our podcast and post a review. Thank you!

The AuthorU – Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is now heard on SEVEN podcast channels. How cool is that? Listeners can tune into the weekly (always new – no repeats) show on:

iTunes - Player FM - Stitcher - MixCoud - Bluburry - iHeart Radio - Toginet Internet Radio

Get the latest #AuthorU-Your Guide to #Book #Publishing #podcast with @MyBookShepherd via iTunes here:   http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

Get the latest #AuthorU-Your Guide to #Book #Publishing radio podcast with @MyBookShepherd via iTunes here:   http://bit.ly/PublishingPodcast


That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?
About Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd

Book Publishing expert Judith Briles, aka The Book Shepherd
has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. Judith is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing that generates over 100,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.

The Book Shepherd
 
 
 
 


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