Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Facebook Messenger warning

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors

Newsletter Issue #352 – September 25, 2024

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.

In this Issue

1. Author Tips & Tools … Warning on Facebook Messenger

2. Author Benefit ... Help You Write

3. Author Treat, No Tricks … Get 13 Free Banned Books

4. Working Vacation Time … Join me for Publishing at Sea

5. Author Talk … Meet Patty Limerick, REPLAY pioneer in western history

6. Hot podcasts for September … Add to your calendar and listen

7. Salons … October and November are available to register

8. Question of the Week … Why should I market my book?

9. Book Shepherd "Smile" of the Week … Sisters – SNL

1. October 9 Author Talk with Authors Hall of Famer Penny Rafferty Hamilton

2. October 12 Author Salons - Online and In-Person

3. October 17 BookBrush webinar

4. October 19 BN Book Fair – Colorado Blvd, Glendale CO

5. October 20 BN Book Fair – Southlands, Aurora CO

6. November 6, 13, 20, 27 AMZ bestseller workshop – Zoom

7. November 9 Author Salons - Online and In-Person

8. November 13 Author Talk with Authors Hall of Famer Manuel Ramos

9. November 23 BN Book Fair – Denver West Village, Lakewood CO

10. November 24 BN Book Fair – Lonetree CO

I don’t respond to Facebook messages. In fact, I have it pinned on my Facebook page that I won’t respond to them, even if I personally know the sender. My attitude is that if someone needs to get me—they either have my phone number or email or can go to my website and initiate a contact through it.

In my Friday coaching call last week, one of the participants revealed the devasting Facebook Messenger Hell she has experienced—something that could happen to anyone who has a phone and location tied to into their social media profiles.

She had been contacted on her phone by a convict out of prison through her FB page messenger and is threatening her—trolling, harassing, even to kill her. The police stepped in and placed her in a safe house and deleted her social media. It started with random phone calls—over 200 texts and voice mails that were hideously nasty, all through Facebook.

So .. Facebook users, did you know that via Facebook, a person who can create random computer generated phone numbers ... and text and call you? Very, VERY scary ... all starting with FB, a computer, and a bad person in possession of one.

There are bad people out there … predators. Your to do TODAY: remove/block Facebook Messenger from your mobile app. Go your into messenger thread, select Information button and tap on View Profile. If your number is accessible, you'll be able to see it. And better yet, change your state as my client has done. If a phone number is required, it’s a "fake one" time.

Carolyne Ruck
info@help-u-write.com

Help-U-Write offers "Editing and Proofreading" as a package service, although they are really two different processes.

Editing serves a very useful purpose. It’s essential for the indie author of today. Sometimes you will have used "jargon" or "slang" that is very familiar to you because you use it daily, but it is unfamiliar to your audience. At times, an event needs more explanation because it is unique to a particular locale. Occasionally, we will even suggest that you present the ideas in a slightly different order so that it will be easier for the reader to understand your meaning. At all times in the editing process, we suggest changes….it is up to you whether you wish to follow the suggestions or go a different direction.
Editing and Proofreading can be billed by the job or by the hour, depending on the length or difficulty of the manuscript. For short pieces, we usually charge by the hour.

If you’re interested in talking with us about editing or proofreading your manuscript, please email us at info@help-u-write.com. Write "Editing" in the subject line.

I’m a firm believer in getting away to learn. Especially in the winter. To merge with others of "like-minded" … away from home, from the office, from every day "noise" and I do it at least once a year.

The Western Caribbean is the destination and the port we depart from is Galveston, Texas. Our ship ... a cruising fan on the Royal Caribbean line, is the Harmony at Seas. I call Publishing at Sea ... and you should be thinking book marketing at sea as you read this.

Sometimes it’s a learning conference just for me. Sometimes, it’s a writing retreat where the phone, the staff, the doorbell, the anything that is in my normal daily routine is a distractor.

It’s why I work and escape on cruises.

Full care—do what I want.
A variety of food choices.
Interesting people to meet (if I choose to).
I can be a hermit if I want.
It’s got the water and sun factors I crave.

For authors, the Publishing at Sea Cruise and Workshop scheduled for March 2-9, 2025, may just be the perfect week for you—your book marketing—working on your next book—or just hanging out with other authors. We have an awesome faculty. Workshops are on at Sea Days. When in Ports, I want to discover, play, and enjoy the country and what it offers.

Details of the cruise and workshops are on the Publishing at Sea website. Your ship is the beautiful Harmony of the Seas with Royal Caribbean—it’s a huge ship, with plenty of nooks to claim. Central Park is a personal favorite plus the Solarium ... and of course, my balcony is connected to my stateroom. It works well for workshops and conferences.

Departure day is March 2 from the port in Galveston and returns on the 9th. I Join us! recommend that you be in Texas the day before.

If you are interested in coming—FINAL DATE TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT to join the Publishing at Sea group is October 1st- any staterooms will be reclaimed by the ship to sell to other cruisers. Call or text me NOW at 303-885-2207 if you are in.

And … here’s the September Webinar Replay with the faculty https://vimeo.com/1006942462?share=copy

Join bestselling Colorado Authors Hall of Fame Inductee Patty Limerick as she takes center stage and reveals her journey to becoming an author ... oh the places she has been ... and what she has done to bring awareness to millions.

· Is honored to be a Fool … starting with Harvard’s Fool and now Colorado’s—humor is good!

· Founder of the Center of the American West creating a forum to explore volatile issues facing the West.

· Is a champion of the written word.

· Is challenging and fighting for the rights of and to her intellectual property.

· Has done two tours as a Pulitzer Nonfiction jurist, as well as chairing the 2011 Pulitzer jury in History.

· Over a dozen books have been published.

· Her award-winning book, The Legacy of Conquest, literally opened and reimagined the interpretation of American history.

· Published over seventy-five academic articles and essays that educate the reader on current issues affecting the West.

· Professor of History of the American West at the University of Colorado and the Director of the Applied History Initiative.

· Was inducted into the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame in 2023.

Replay here: https://vimeo.com/user6905074/pattylimerick?share=copy

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.