Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / get publishing and book marketing questions answered on Friday

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

I create books authors never have to apologize for …

In this Issue

1. Discover … Retargeter

2. Meet Friendly Friday

3. Get questions answered … Ask Judith this Friday

4. Workshop… January Amazon Bestseller

5. Hot podcasts for December… Add to your calendar and listen

6. Salons for the New Year … January and February

7. Question of the week …Help-I’ve been duped.

8. Smile time … You’ll love Buster

Once again, the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame will award up to five $2,000 plus Mentorship scholarships. Total value to an aspiring, unpublished author is $15,000+. Do you know someone who is an unpublished author who desires to be? Get them to submit their applications NOW.

Applicants must be at least 21, a resident of Colorado, and connected to Colorado by birth, living here at some time, writing about Colorado, or using elements of Colorado in their writing

Details HERE: https://www.ColoradoAuthorsHallofFame.org/scholarships.html

My blog this week is perfect for the time … it’s all about encouraging and helping authors-to-be in their author’s walk … https://thebookshepherd.com/coloradoaspiringauthors/

Join Author Friendly Fridays: a fun, sharing and a dynamic closed group. 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 session starts: I share a few strategies, tips, and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. IMMEDIATELY! All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. For authors, it’s the perfect 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!

For AuthorYOU members $37 a month: for Nonmembers $75

Here’s the link to take advantage of it and subscribe—not a freebie: https://thebookshepherd.com/author-friendly-fridays/

The Book Shepherd, Judith Briles is YOURS for 60 minutes on Friday, December 19th at 3 pm MT to ask any question you have about book publishing, book marketing, writing a book ... or just getting a "little juice" to start your engines after the Holiday rush from the past few weeks.

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 60 minutes to seed your 2025 success... and why not? Grab your favorite beverage; just listen in ... or ASK, ASK, ASK! It's time to re-juice and rekindle your author energy!

Join Zoom Meeting – click on it or copy/paste

https://zoom.us/j/95000476418?pwd=SH5vWqz0SkvVIZIgnC95lHCmCAi2km.1

Passcode: authors

Add to Your Calendar: this Friday, December 19 at 3 MT (2 PT, 4 CT, 5 ET)

Sign up for our next sessions scheduled for January 7, 14, 21, 28
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 later. 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.

Requirements:

1. Two hours of your time online each week via Zoom with Judith Briles. Late Wednesday afternoon will be our start time. All sessions recorded.

2. Social media presence. Thousands would be good but not crucial. You will learn tips and tricks during each session that will have new adds every week.

3. An “I want to be #1 and I can do this attitude” and commitment to do the work during each session and post-work each work.

4. A computer. A free account on either Canva and BookBrush.

Dates: Wednesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28
Times: 4.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M. MT
Cost: $299
Register: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller/

Answer: To pull a line from former President Bill Clinton: I feel your pain. You’ve been zapped by a publishing predator. WestBow Press is part of the Thomas Nelson publishing empire. Like the way Balboa Press as part of Hay House. Both are also Author Solutions in disguise. What you have experienced is on a spiral, gazillions have been lured in to publish their books to come away feeling betrayed, lied to, duped. You think you are dealing with a reputable publishing concern and instead, you are waltzing with a publishing predator. Sigh.

What I would do: Immediately challenge your transaction with the company. Demand your money back. THEN, contact the credit card company you used and put in a dispute. Use the words: misrepresentation of services; inferior product, non-delivery, failed to deliver in time, etc.

And avoid any company that has Bloomington, IN address in your dealings for self-publishing services., It’s the city that Author Solutions’ main address is. Forward, do a Google search in the future for any company or person you are considering working with—follow its name with the words: complaints, rip off, problems, lawsuits. Read many pages—bad news is usually buried. My two bits

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/author-friendly-fridays/

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 which generates over 250,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.