Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors

Newsletter Issue #452– September 2, 2026
Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

I create books authors never have to apologize for …

In this Issue

1.Discover and Support ... Imagination Library

2. Use and Take Advantage ... the Author Gathering for Colorado Authors - IN-PERSON

3. Author Smarts & Support ... Register for Publishing at Sea - February 2027

4. Aspiring Author Celebration ... Last Chance to Come to the Luncheon

5. Hot Podcasts for September ... Smart Authors for Successful Authors

6. Question of the Week ... When Do I Do Pre-Publication Announcements for My Book?

7. Smile Time ... Quick Change Artist Extraordinaire

This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s ® Roof

Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU …

The world is truly a better place because of the words, the music, the energy, the glitz, and yes, the wisdom of Dolly Parton. She openly revealed she couldn’t read sheet music … yet her music connected with millions—she wrote and recorded thousands of legendary songs entirely by ear.

I hear many say, “I can’t …” Could that be you? Dolly Parton didn’t. As an author, it’s patience and persistence that delivers success. There are workarounds for the “I can’ts” that come your way. Find yours and go forth.

Heads up for anyone who is interested in the September Amazon Bestseller workshops … it was SOLD OUT last week. 

The next series will be available in November, starting on the 4^th. Details are on TheBookShepherd.com website under Events. Space is always limited so that I can do one-on-one coaching as well as group within each session. Over four weeks, you will be ready to set up your Amazon Bestseller campaign and claim it for your marketing forward. Strongly encourage your to get registered for the November round … that is if you want an Amazon Bestseller … and block the four Wednesday afternoons from 4-5:30 pm MT to work with me.

What work … and fun Friday’s Book Launch for Appetizers with Judith book—a live event in my home where I created 10 of the recipes from the book for participants to nibble on along with the rest of the story of the how and why I did each one. Over 40 friends and fans stopped in. Two pots of the Yellow Zucchini Soup Sippers disappeared. The flak steak bruschetta's were a huge hit with their whipped feta and horseradish base. The Stuffed Figs with goat cheese and honey along with the Dates with Zest meaning apricots, boursin and orange zest were a wow. All within the pages of Appetizers with Judith. Get your copy now on Amazon or order it through your favorite bookstore.

Mara Purl joined me with a few of her novellas. Her new one, When Eagles Roost will debut in a few weeks. Appetizers … and novellas … starters for taste buds and reading adventures.

I’m honored to join the Board of the San Francisco chapter of the Women’s National Book Association this month. I’ve done a few programs for the group and look forward to working with and offering my guidance. WNBA has 900 members, San Francisco, my old stomping grounds, is the largest.

Here in Colorado, I’m setting up local author book signings with Barnes & Noble Book Fairs for fall. Add them to your calendar to do a “drop in” and support the many AuthorU members who dedicate their time to support the Aspiring Author Scholarships.

October 25  BN Southlands

November 7 BN Ft Collins

November14 BN Colorado Blvd

November 1 5 BN DenverWest- Lakewood

I will be doing signings and tastings solos in several of the BN stores for my new book Appetizers with Judith: 

September 20  Southlands

October 3 Colorado Blvd

Dec 13-Denver West … definitely should feed into holiday shopping!

And here in Colorado … the morning air is beginning to change. I can feel it. Fall forward time is creeping up, some yellowing beginning in my trees ... officially it is September 22 this year, but it's color transition time ... fall colors will enter some of my interior starting soon.    

Last week's blog focuses on 15 strategies for authors to market their book awards and amplify their success. Authors Need to Get their “Quacker” in Gear … 15 Tips to Shout Out Good News!

This week's focus is on getting ready to set the stage for “the rest of the year” with Are you Ready to Fall Forward to Become an OMG Awesome Author?

Make sure you take a few moments to read.

Listen in at: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast or via
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudithBrilesTheBookShepherd

Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? … Holy Moly … over 22 million downloads now of various podcasts since the podcast started six years ago.

You can select which podcast is for you from over 600 shows … the latest will always be posted on top of the podcast home 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. September 3 Podcast … Book Awards and AI … Jules Marie

2. September 5 Author Gathering … In-Person ONLY, Get Registered

3. September 9, 16, 23, 30 … Amazon Bestseller Workshop - SOLD OUT

4. September 10 Podcast … Book Launches and Relaunches … Judith Briles

5. September 11 … Aspiring Authors Celebration

6. September 17 Podcast … Fall Forward Tips for Authors … Deb Eckerling

7. September 18 Ask Judith

8. September 20 Judith at Barnes&Noble, Southlands … Book Tasting for Appetizers with Judith book

9. September 24 Podcast … GoodJelly Productivity for Authors and Writers … Christine Carron

1. Discover and Support … Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free books to children from birth until they begin school in participating areas. In 1995, the Foundation implemented Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Sevier County, Tennessee. This monthly book gifting program for children under five focused on inspiring a love of books and reading for all preschool children in the county. What was founded as a local program grew into an international movement through the unique partnership among the Foundation, the publisher, the fulfillment centers and the thousands of local organizations who adopted the program. The Imagination Library continues to be the signature program of the Foundation.

See if there is a contact where you live: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/

You can support the Dollywood Foundation and its flagship program, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, by making financial contributions online, through local community partners, or via alternative gifting methods.

2. Join in Author Gathering - IN PERSON for publishing and book marketing answers. Have Questions? Get answers.

And, it’s a freebie!

IN-PERSON this Saturday, September 5th at 9 am … you must register by Friday AM!

Think of The Author Gathering as a combo MASTERMIND and personal Advisory Board for Aspiring and Achieving Authors. And JOIN AuthorU.org  today.

https://authoru.org/j-o-i-n

Delivered 8 months a year ONLINE for global and housebound members and 4 times IN-PERSON for those in Colorado.

Your host is Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd and the Author Gatherings are held two ways: on ZOOM ONLINE from 8 to 9.30 am AND IN-PERSON in her home in the southeast Metro Denver area from 9 to 11.30 am. They are a benefit as a part of the paid AuthorU.org  membership. A member can bring a Guest who can attend ONE Author Gathering. After that, you must be a member of AuthorYOU.org. Bring a snack to share.

Note: There must be a minimum of 5 participants (not including Judith) registered by NOON MT the day before for any session to BE A GO. That would be September 4. If not, the session will be canceled and all members will be notified by an email announcement via Meetup.

To register for the FREE session, use this link: https://www.meetup.com/authorgathering/

3. Take a break from WINTER 2027 and join Judith and the Publishing at Sea team for one week of author changing days.

It’s the 14th Annual Publishing at Sea Cruise – February 8, 2027 to February 14, 2027

• Get ready to change your publishing and authoring life

• Publishing at Sea – An Unforgettable Experience for Authors

• Depart from Miami - CocoCay, Bahamas | Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

• Create Your Ultimate Bestseller

Combining Learning … with work … and time off  to enjoy sun, and other cultures for an entire trip … that’s what we do on the Publishing at Sea adventure. Classes are small so the takeaways can be large for each participant. You will discover nooks and crannies for solo writing time; for brainstorming with other cruisers; and for meeting with our staff. How ideal would that be to enhance your book marketing and publishing journey?

Authors who need a crash course in book publishing before they write; need to create demand for books that aren’t selling; who want to learn the latest strategies in marketing, publicity and how to keep the sanity in an overwhelm world can learn the inside secrets of how to create, write and market the book success that they envision during a Caribbean cruise.

The “Create the Ultimate Bestseller at Sea!” cruise includes training sessions and laser coaching.

Bonus …  listen and watch … the Publishing at Sea faculty delivered 30+ tips within the promised 60 minutes yesterday for hundreds of registrants. It was a rapid-fire hour to amp up your marketing, writing, publicity, and social media influence.

Here’s the REPLAY: https://vimeo.com/1216082587

4. Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online Course in 4 weeks!  Starts this week … SOLD OUT!

Next series is November 4, 11, 18, 25

If you want to create this:

Sign up for our next sessions for November 4, 11, 18, 25

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.

Times: 4.00 P.M. to 5.30 P.M. MT

Cost: $299  special Alumni rates at $199

Register: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller

5. Aspiring Authors Celebration - Join me September 11^th

This week is the last chance to get your ticket!

Get your tickets here: https://www.coloradoauthorshalloffame.org/attend-no

Every other year, Colorado unpublished authors have the opportunity to submit for a combo cash and one year mentoring program. Sponsored by the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame, Barnes & Nobel, and AuthorU.org. This year, fourteen men and women ranging from 26 to 78 will be honored. The nine judges were “wowed” with the range of the applicants … so much so, that additional scholarships were added.

Join us at the Denver Inverness  in the DTC area on September 11 at 11.30 am. The location and site are upscale and a pleasure to be at. Get your ticket … it’s one that had “tax deduction” with it. Lunch and program is included. Details are on the Colorado Author’s Hall of Fame website. Bios and photos will be added this week.

6. Hot Podcasts Slated for August

Ranked in the Top 10 podcasts for book marketing for authors by FeedSpot.

September 3 Podcast … Book Awards and AI … Jules Marie

September 10 Podcast … Book Launches and Relaunches … Judith Briles

September 17 Podcast … Fall Forward Tips for Authors … Deb Eckerling

September 24 Podcast … GoodJelly Productivity for Authors and Writers … Christine Carron

7. Question of the Week ... When do I do pre-publication announcements for my book?

My Answer: As much as six months before you will have book in hand. Start with your website … and as your date moves closer, incorporate other online portals such as Amazon and Ingram. Good Read my recent blog on creating a pre-publication flyer

Here: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-and-offer-pre-publication-post-publication-flyers/

8. Smile of the Week

Love it when I find a fun shorty—a quick smile, a laugh out loud, a learn something new, and a sip of tea … and back to work—perfect. Smile time.

Author Friendly Friday this week! 

Join Author Friendly Fridays: a fun, sharing and 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/author-friendly-fridays/

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 at: http://bit.ly/JudithCoaching

Podcast has expanded to 11 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 available on all major podcast channels. How cool is that? Listeners can tune into the weekly (always new – no repeats) show on: 

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

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