Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / how to get book marketing mojo back

Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

Newsletter Issue #223 – March 23, 2022

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

1. Author Tools ... Discover Speaking on Your Book and Connecting

2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit …
… F + P Graphic Design – Rebecca Finkel

3. AuthorYOU Extravaganza …Tick Tock

4. May First Saturday Program … Creating Contests and Building Your eMail List

5. Webinar Replays… Taste of the Extravaganza Sneak Peek

6. International Amazon Bestseller … Next class starts on May

7. AuthorYOU Salons … posted through June 2022 on Meetup site

8. Hot podcasts for February … Add to your calendar and listen

9. Question of the Week … I’m tired of marketing. How can I get enthused again?

10. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … Cute Cat Wants Treats

Don’t forget about the discount code that is good until the end of this month (March 31) on IngramSpark that will allow you to upload up to FIVE books on the IngramSpark platform that have not been previously published. You must use your own ISBNs, not IS. Here’s the code to use: FREEFIVE22

The IN-PERSON AuthorYOU Extravaganza is a GO! Are you there? The smart author will figure out a way to carve time to be there. This week ends the $2,000 in registration bonuses.

Be there. I’m there to absorb the writing wisdom of Barb Wilson on the afternoon of April 7th through Saturday when we close. Stay at the hotel (it’s so smart for schmoozing and ease)—room rates are $115. Use this link to get a reduced rate: bit.ly/EX2022Hotel … details below … get registered for your author and publishing success.

And, don’t miss out on the Taste of the Extravaganza webinar. The faculty shared pre-tips yesterday. The replay is below.

Have you subscribed to my new YouTube author and publishing tips channel? Always less than three minutes … a new one pops up five days a week, Monday through Friday. Become a subscriber and take a peek: https://bit.ly/Author-PublishingTips

I’ve posted infos below on the April AuthorYOU Extravaganza that was planned many months ago. Sign up for it … Never, ever, underestimate the power and presence of IN-PERSON meetings.

My podcast guest this week is … me. I’m focusing on hashtags, tags, and categories … get ready to grab tips and strategies for all things book marketing for free with the secret sauce of book reviews.

And HOT …. I’ve been thinking, saying, talking for some time … YouTube publishing and marketing tips videos. Short ones. This week … I… did … it. Forward, Each weekday. A new one pops up. A freebie and less than three minutes. Subscribe to-it’s in my Playlists. Happy Dance here.

That’s my week … how’s yours? lots of happenings below. I continue with my year of “Re.”

1. March 9,16,23,30 - The Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign

2. March 10 - Podcast: Inside Skinny on Book Reviews -Part 1

3.  March 24 - Podcast: Hashtags, Categories and Tags

4. March 31 - Podcast: Could a Cyber Attack Be Circling Your Website?

5. April 7 -  Podcast: Book Designs Woven with 2022 Book Trends

6. April 7-9 – AuthorYOU Extravaganza – be there in Colorado!

7. April 14    Podcast: Podcast: Book Hooks, Part 1

8. April 21    Podcast: Podcast: Book Hooks, Part 2

9. May 7 – 1st Saturday AuthorYOU program – In-PERSON or Online-TBD

10. MAY 4. 11. 18. 25 – Amazon Bestseller ONLINE program

11. May 14 – AuthorYOU Salons – In-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only

12. June 18 – Barnes&Nobles – Colorado Blvd, Glendale CO

When you are speaking, do you connect with your audiences? Do they love you? They should, to enable you to create the bridge—your content to them … back to you … to your message … to your book … and to sales.

1. Before you start, know what your goal is.

2. As you structure your presentation, integrate the needs and desires of your audience—do it by doing the ASK … with the coordinator of the program; doing a survey of the participants/membership; or interviewing members or participants.

3. What interaction format will you use—inspirational, motivational, teaching/lecture, entertainment?

4. Use stories and analogies to accent your key points.

5. Set your presentation up with a reveal of what your survey and research uncovered about their needs.

6. Goose your energy so that your enthusiasm will become contagious.

April 2022

Did you know that over 80% of the public thinks there is a book in them? Are you part of the 80%? Want to learn what your options are in getting yours from your head; from all those loose notes that have piled up over the years; want to add “published author” behind your name this year?

Is this your COME BACK Year? Is 2022 the year that makes the difference for you? Are you ready to:

· Jump into your publishing dreams, turning them into reality?

· Create a new book or repurpose an old one?

· Do a refresher on what’s happening in publishing today?

· Or do you need to just hang out … to mingle with other writers and authors?

Part of AuthorYOU’s mission is to educate emerging authors on how to write, publish and market their books. Part is two takes achieving authors to a higher level of success. And part is to create a support community of networking and information streams. AuthorYOU is for the author who wants to be seriously successful.

Today’s publishing is a journey loaded with twists, turns, and potholes. AuthorYOU will prep, guide, and demonstrate:

· The latest in marketing strategies that will create your tipping point.

· Essential information about editing your book that will turn your head.

· Master the “art” of story writing for both fiction and nonfiction that creates “the opening grab.”

· Ideas to spin you, your book, and your expertise to the viral sphere.

· How to create a hero, not a zero, when it comes to book cover design.

· Website designs with a twist.

· How to propel yourself and rise above the publishing marketplace with social media and metadata.

· Tips on avoiding the mistakes most authors make.

· The ABCs of eBooks.

· How to say “Bye-Bye to BORING” presentations and trainings.

· Write and publish a book that grabs your reader.

· What to expect when you are expecting—the dollars, cents, and sense of publishing is today.

+++ THREE special ticketed items. Barb Wilson will deliver an “early arrival” workshop Thursday afternoon fueled by the stellar results 9 Cube Plotting Techniques, a writing workshop delivered at the Breckenridge Extravaganza in 2018. For those who want to join in for dinner Friday evening—there will be a special dessert: humor entertainment.

You can, and it’s happening when October kicks off. Get registered NOW to grab your seat. Space will be limited.

WHEN: Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 7th to April 9th

FRIDAY April 8th 8 am – 5 pm … General Session Workshops
The Author Gong Show at Noon

SATURDAY April 9th 7 am to Noon … General Session Workshops
Sunrise Workshop at Bonus EVENTS

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

HOTEL … stay there. It’s the Doubletree Denver-Aurora Hotel Your special rate is $115. Click here: bit.ly/EX2022Hotel

It’s the First Saturday session of AuthorYOU for May … and it’s going to be different. Author’s Assistant Bobby Crew has created a step-by-step process to build your email numbers using a boatload of contest ideas. This is an ONLINE event.

This is a don’t-miss gathering for authors and wanna-be authors. Basically, anyone who is publishing and doing book marketing. Think Author Success for 2022!

· Platforms for contests to use.

· Different strategies that become magnets for participants.

· Tips for pushouts to let others know about your contest.

· Giveaways for winners.

· eMail building pushes and tactics.

Plenty of time for Q&A.

AuthorYOU Members: $15
NonMembers: $45

AuthorYOU Members: $15
NonMembers: $45

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

This will be an ONLINE program. Everyone needs to have an Instagram account set up before we start. You will be sent the handout and Zoom link on Friday, the day before.

REPLAY HERE: https://vimeo.com/688797637

Oh yes … it’s a Sneak Preview! Get ready to jump on the inside of what’s coming to the all NEW AuthorYOU Extravaganza that will be in the beautiful Colorado in the Metro Denver area. Only attend a Taste of the AuthorYOU Extravaganza online summit if:

· you want to outsell and outshine most authors

· you want to connect with national publishing pros

· you want to learn insider tips for 2022 and beyond book marketing

· you want to be the webinar star presenter in your expertise

· you want swag that lures in book buyers

· you want to know the latest in copyrights and the as the IP world turns

· you want covers and interiors that exceed what most authors create

· you want to learn about author tools that work

· you want to be seriously successful as an author AND you want to have FUN!

Get ready to Create Your Author and Publishing Breakthroughs … starting NOW!

Get ready for marketing your audiobook to get a whole lot more fun and audiobook sales! This was a WOWSA webinar … one of the most informative we’ve done. A major boo-boo on your book marketing part if you chose not to attend live. Just saying.

· If you've felt like having an audiobook is just one more thing to spend marketing time on, then this is for you.

· If you're using a scattershot approach to marketing without a clear strategic plan in place, you'll want to join this webinar.

· If you have published your book but not yet started production of your audiobook, then you'll gain priceless tips!

Here is your webinar replay link: https://vimeo.com/686254998

Yes, it can. Next workshop starts May 4th –

Create an AmazonBestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online Course in 4 weeks!

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 latter. I will take you through each step during the four weeks. When you complete #17, you are ready to execute.

Judith’s goal is for you to have all components for your campaign DONE before your implementation/execution day. All social media tease pushouts are done and scheduled before the big day starts.

Your Requirements;

90 minutes of your time online each week via Zoom with Judith Briles. Late Monday afternoon will be our start time. This is not a webinar, it’s live, online coaching.
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.
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.
A computer. A free account on either Canva or BookBrush.

Dates: May 4. 11. 18. 25.
Times: 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm MT

Judith’s next Amazon Bestseller class is slated for March. Four Wednesday afternoons. and are always limited in size.

Info here to get registered: https://bit.ly/BookShepAMZ

Register for the next few months – there is a session for ONLINE authors and a separate for IN-PERSON- FORWARD … Salons are a Free benefit for VIP AuthorYOU members only.

RULES …
1. You must register for this.
2. If less than 5 people are registered by Noon on the Friday before, event will be canceled.

If you have book marketing, writing, publishing questions, get answers. Or, you just want to schmooze a bit, It’s ONLINE and IN-PERSON on the second Saturday of each month. You MUST be a paid member of AuthorYOU.org to participate. ONLINE starts at 7 am to 8.30 am MT – IN-PERSON at 9 am MT. Here’s the link to register and getting notices/reminders forward:

Register here: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/

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).

March 3 - Tips and Tricks to Market Your Book Frugally - Carolyn Howard Johnson

March 10 - Get the Insider's Skinny on Book Reviews, Part 1- Jim Cox

March 17 - Get the Insider's Skinny on Book Reviews, Part 2- Jim Cox

March 24 - Hashtags, Handles, and Tags - Judith Briles

March 31 - Cyber Wars: The Battle for Your Data - Greg Jameson

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

Question: I’m tired of marketing. How can I get enthused again?

Answer: First, everyone runs out of steam at some time. Some sooner than later. To get your “mojo” back, step away and reflect. What has worked? Why? What didn’t? Why? Ask yourself: Do I love my book? Do I believe in its content? If a no … then step away and refocus on what you care about.

If yes, then determine how much time you can dedicate to its support. Do a Google search with the theme/topic of your book and add “latest updates” to see what is online about your topic. Next, revisit what worked … is it still viable in today’s marketing? Morph your “hook” message and push out some posts with appropriate hashtags. Consider building some buzz-do an Amazon bestseller campaign to get your topic in book buyer’s eyes. Register for my Amazon Bestseller Campaign class. It will get you to #1, giving you a booster shot to move forward.

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.