New NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week /Discover my favorite teas

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #160 – January 27, 2021

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools … AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast

2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Discover AmazonSmile

3. AuthorYOU February Program … Guidelines for Children’s Books and Creating Press Releases

4. Dr. Judith Briles’ Unplugged Experiences … be there

5. Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign in March

6. AuthorYOU Salons … register for February and March

7. Hot podcasts for January … add to your calendar and listen/learn

8. Question of the Week … should I work with a hybrid publisher?

9. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … cat understands words

It’s a happy dance in our household. Both John and I got dose #1 for the COVID vaccine last Saturday—traveling across town to a Safeway Pharmacy with the second dose scheduled for February 20. A sore arm for a few days but the biggest reaction was the happy dance and looking forward to openness coming.

Loved the Ask Judith Anything webinar last week. For 90 minutes, questions flowed, and answers bounced back. It’s always fun to bring each person “live” to the mic to hear their voice and expand on the question.

I’m a tea drinker and a friend asked if I had favorites. Yes, I do. British Breakfast is a favorite from the Republic of Tea. It was what I reached for years UNTIL I was in England and Ireland. Now, my GO TO teas is Bewley’s Dublin Breakfast Tea; Bewley’s Irish Afternoon Tea, and the awesome Lyons Irish teas that author Suzanne Blankenship introduced me to over Christmas. If I want to treat myself, a little cream and mini touch of sugar are added. So delicious. And bliss, as I wrap both hands around a large mug and settle into my morning tasks.

Tea is my first “go-to” in the AM as I slip into the hot tub to warm up my joints then flow into my day (with refills throughout the morning) … I switch to a peach iced tea often in the afternoon, and when the snow disappears for all spring to fall afternoons. Evening finds me with a mug of Good Earth’s Sweet and Spicy or Lady Earl Grey. Of course, I’ve got dozens of others to select from. Between my pantry off the kitchen, a full top shelf in the downstairs kitchen, and a nifty tea carousel that sits on the kitchen island—my mood guides my hand.

Loved the new look for the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast that graphics pro-Nick Zelinger created—check it out below.

My moving forward encompasses this first quarter. There is LOTS going on this time of the year. I’ve got three of my Dr. Judith Briles Unpluggeds (Publishing, Book Marketing, Social Media) revised for two 4 ½ hours Friday and Saturday afternoons in January, February, and March. The Early Bird for February in 3 weeks—I added a few more days with the—save moneys and get registered. Details are below.

My moving forward encompasses this first quarter. There are LOTS going on for this first quarter of the year. I’ve got three of my Dr. Judith Briles Unpluggeds (Publishing, Book Marketing, Social Media) revised for two 4 ½ hour Friday and Saturday afternoons in January, February, and March. The Early Bird for January ends this Friday—I added a few more days with the—save moneys and get registered. Details are below.

AuthorYOU.org renewals are in play this month.

· If you want to participate in the free AuthorYOU monthly Salons, you need to be a member.

· If you want to participate in the quarterly free Ask Judith Anything online sessions, you must be a member.

· If you want to get discounts to publishing providers that have been arranged for, you must be a member.

· If you want to participate in the monthly AuthorYOU programs at discount rates, you must be a member.

· If you want to participate in my Author Friendly Friday early AM coaching sessions at a reduced rate (saving 33%), you must be a member.

· And there’s more coming on the list.

Tis that simple. Membership is $127 a year. Join HERE: https://authoru.org/join-author-u/why-join-author-u.html

Last Saturday’s first AuthorYOU Salon went a full 2½ hours with 20 plus attendees. As a member of AuthorYOU.org, this a monthly benefit (nope—we always go forward, even during the summer and December). Next month’s regular first Saturday meeting will focus on press releases and PR plus kids books. Details are posted on the website. AuthorYOU members always get a discount. The date is February 6th.

I’m honored to have the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast added to the Google podcast roaster. That means we are heard on 10 different platforms—very cool!

Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? … Holy Moly … over 4 million downloads of various podcasts in 2020 already! Fun watching the download numbers—something that I look at each morning with my hot mug of tea.

Last week, marketing guru Susan Gilbert joined me with a focus on branding with your core message. This week, press expert Mitchell Davis is my guest.

Lots of info on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast.

You can select which podcast is for you from over 350 shows and 4,000,000 total downloads … the latest will always be posted on top of the show page: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast--it goes directly to the Show Page, where you can view all podcasts at once—just scroll … you’ve got a lot to pick from to expand your learning and how to curve.

1. January 27 – Amazon eBook Bestseller Online Course-final session

2. January 28 – Podcast with Susan Gilbert and Branding with your CORE message

3. January 29-30 – Book Publishing Unplugged Online

4. February 6 – First Saturday AuthorYOU program online- press release power and children’s books

5. February 13 – AuthorYOU Salons – online for AuthorYOU members only

6. February 26-27 – Book Marketing Unplugged Online

7. March 6 – First Saturday AuthorYOU program online-discover the power of Medium

8. March 10, 17, 24, 31– Amazon eBook Bestseller Online Course

9. March 13 – AuthorYOU Salons – online

10. March 13 – AuthorYOU Salons – online for AuthorYOU members only

11. March 26-27 – Social Media Unplugged Online

If you want to write and publish a book ... if you want to know the latest in book marketing strategies ... if you want to know what tools an author should be using ... and if you want to be successful as an author, Author YOU - Your Guide to Book Publishing with Dr. Judith Briles ... Everything You Want to Know, But Didn't Know What to Ask is for you. You will hear about statistics, scenarios. and strategies on what to do now! Judith features a variety of experts, besides herself, that are visionaries in publishing, book marketing experts, book design experts--anything that will get your book and YOU as the author--to the next, next level of success.

Sometimes, it's one step at a time; others you will leapfrog up the ladder. As The Book Shepherd, Dr. Judith Briles is in and each week. She will include publishing professionals that will reveal tips and secrets to the author's journey. If there is a book in you, then you will want to listen and learn each and every week.

Listen to all shows here: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

You want your press releases to work for you. Tips and Tactics galore on the first Saturday in February via Michell Davis and ExpertClick.com.

1. Push technology for your news releases — pushing your news out ten ways including Google News. Plus, blog syndication to pull your posts and push syndicate. — PR Week called us: “dating service of PR.”

2. Use of an Internet Press Room designed for SEO with inbound links from tens of thousands of other member’s press rooms and news releases – driving inbound links to your website. — USA Today called our website: “A Hot Site.”

3. Be in the 35th annual Yearbook of Experts, Authorities & Spokespersons. — The New York Times called it: “Dial-an-Expert.”

Special 15% discount link for AuthorYOU members:
www.ExpertClick.com/discount/AuthorU

Award-winning book designer Nick Zelinger tackles the challenging task of how to create a children’s book you can be proud of — and sell by the boatload!

In the Art of Children’s Books, he will set the stage for:

· What to look for in an illustrator.

· Setting guidelines for you and your artist.

· The most common mistakes authors make and how to avoid them.

· Identifying pitfalls to avoid — saving you time, money, and aggravation.

· How to determine size, fonts, and printer.

· The challenges and limitations of printing in color.

· And much more.

Even if you don’t think of yourself as a children’s author, there’s lots of takeaways in this session including why adults should be reading children’s books for their own writing. Nick Zelinger of NZ Graphics is a multiple award-winning book designer with over 30 years’ experience in graphic design, print media, and publishing.

He and his clients have garnered more than 150 national and international book awards. Nick’s dedication to detail, his commitment to deadlines, and his fervent belief that being a team player is essential for success in the publishing world, have kept his clients coming back.

And … he’s loved reading children’s books since he was a kid … and still does.

WHEN: Saturday, February 6th
TIME: 9 AM Mountain
WHERE: Your computer via Zoom
COST: $15 AuthorYOU members - $25 non-members

REGISTER: https://authoru.org/event/feb?instance_id=1551

Would you be willing to invest two afternoons over a Friday and Saturday to get all the publishing and strategy information you need ... information and strategies that will create the Game Plan to be an awesome and seriously successful author?

January 29-30, 2021 will change your authoring life ...

Experience two days of Judith ... no pitches, just Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged delivering an amazing depth of publishing, authoring, and marketing information that she has derived from her 30 + years in the publishing field and as The Book Shepherd.

Create the bestseller you dream of ... turn into the award-winning and sought after author you aspire to ... brainstorm the crowdfunding program to fund your project ... get the answers to the questions you have ... all of them.

Reserve Your Spot NOW

Location? Your computer.

Details here for Online Book Publishing Unplugged in January
https://thebookshepherd.com/online-book-publishing-unplugged-on-january.html

Would you be willing to invest two afternoons over a Friday and Saturday to get all the book marketing, strategy, and tools you need ... information and strategies that will create the Marketing Game Plan to be an awesome and seriously successful author?

It’s Book Marketing or Bust time February 26-27, 2021

Location: Your Computer.

Savvy, successful authors have learned that they cannot solve their marketing problem the next day by simply repeating what you did yesterday, last week, last month … or certainly, last year. Reserve Your Spot NOW
It’s time to morph … it’s time to get help.

Details here for Online Book Marketing Unplugged in February
https://thebookshepherd.com/online-book-marketing-on-february.html

Would you be willing to trade just 2 afternoons over the weekend to get all the social media influence building and positioning information you need ... information and strategies that will create the success ladder to be an awesome author?

-This is the WHY
-This is the STRATEGY
-This is the HOW
-This is the WHAT to USE
-This is the YES … YOU CAN!

It’s time for Kick Butt Social Media Influencing March 26-27, 2021

Location: Your Computer.

Create the bestseller you dream of ... turn into the award-winning and sought after author you aspire to ... get the answers to the questions you have ... all of them … become the influencer you and your book should be. Reserve Your Spot NOW

Details here for Online Social Media Unplugged in March
https://thebookshepherd.com/11522-2.html

January is SOLD OUT– next session begins March 10

There are 23 steps in your journey … a journey where you could pay someone to travel and implement for you … or one where you can roll up your sleeves and learn how to create, implement, and execute. As in DIY.

The Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online course is the latest. I will take you through each step during the four weeks. When you complete #17, you are ready to execute.

My goal is for you to have all components for your campaign DONE before your implementation/execution day. All social media tease pushouts done and scheduled before the big day starts—and I help you write each one of them!

Dates: WEDNESDAYs at 4 pm MT for each 90-minute session: : March 2021: 10, 17, 24, 31

Register: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller-campaign-for-your-ebook-online-course-in-4-weeks.html

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 7 Social Media Strategies and Busting Myths – Susan Gilbert

January 14   Getting Your Words Out -Anne Janzer

January 21 Building Your Brand with Your Mission - Susan Gilbert

January 28   Press Release Power -Mitchell Davis

Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

Question: Should I work with a hybrid publisher?

Answer: Maybe—my question is … Is it legit? Today, a huge chasm has opened around scammers using the word “hybrid” to add legitimacy to what they are. It sounds better. True hybrids don’t require you to pay for the layout and cover design. They assume you bring the clean manuscript to them and that extensive editing isn’t required—you pay for that. Otherwise, you are in a “pay to publish” operation and not working with a publisher.

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

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.

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