Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors

Newsletter Issue #457– October 7, 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 Use ... Google Voice

2. Use and Take Advantage ... IBPA Membership

3. Join in Author Gathering ... Zoom Only for Publishing and Book Marketing Answers

4. Want to claim #1 on Amazon? ... Join November Workshop - Only 4 Spots Left

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

6. Question of the Week ... Any Suggestions for Getting Unstuck?

7. Smile Time ... Awesome Mash with Dolly, John and Willy

This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s ® Roof

Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU …

Saturday found me in the Colorado Blvd Barnes & Noble greeting and talking with book buyers along with middle grade author Joseph Caldara. We had a fun day signing books for dozens of new fans.

It’s midweek for the annual Banned Book Week, October 4 – 10. Most bookstores have a banned book section and I visited the one in Barnes & Noble located at Colorado Blvd in Glendale, CO. Sure enough, over a dozens were displayed for book and word lovers buying. I wanted something I hadn’t read yet. So many popped up in front of me that I had already devoured—Orwell’s 1984, Coelho’s The Alchemist, Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atwood’s, The Handmaid’s Tale, Hoessini’s The Kite Runner, Shelley’s Frankenstein, E.B.White’s Charlotte’s Web, Frank’s The Diary of Anne Frank … my eyes wandered over these titles and many more. I had read so many of them. Then my fingers reached out for John Boyne’s The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas. I had seen the movie and was mesmerized by it … it was to be my next. I encourage you to visit and support your local books store and add at least one of their banned books to your “I’m buying this” list.

I also like what Deb Armstrong is doing. She’s linked to breast cancer along with banned books woven with reading and raising money! Her goal: support an October Reading Challenge to help fight breast cancer, one book at a time. I’m all for it and have claimed my book and made a donation. Let’s support an important cause and author Deb Armstrong.

Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/DebArmstrongChallenge

What a surprise with the many emails of support I got from my Tuesday blog: The Missing Response to the RSVP … Is that Your MO? https://thebookshepherd.com/missing-response-to-the-rsvp/

Get registered for the October 10^th and November 21^st Author Gathering Zoom meetings are ready for registration. Details below. Identify that you “are coming” … and make sure copy the link for the Zoom gathering. Just in case, here it is: 

Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93931497233pwd=GPjy72qizD0mDsSlyFJb8wfq8A5bzx.1

Passcode: AU

Heads up for anyone who is interested in the November Amazon Bestseller workshop … it is now 50% sold out. The next series will be start on November 4^th. 

If this is for you, get signed up. 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 you 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.

Last week's blog focuses on marketing strategies for the final quarter of the year. Author Ideas for Final Quarter Book Promo.

This week's focus on the importance of responding to invitations and the disappearing art of the RSVP. The Missing Response to the RSVP … Is that Your MO? 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. October 1 Podcast … GoodJelly Productivity for Authors and Writers … Christine Carron

2. October 3  Judith at B&N … Colorado Boulevard … Glendale CO with Tastings

3. October 8  Podcast … Scams Are Multiplying … Deb Eckerling

4. October 10 Author Gathering … Online

5. October 15 Podcast … Book Marketing Using Unique Days … Judith Briles

6. October 16 ASK Judith

7. October 22 Podcast … Loosing Book Buyers Lips … Ellen Naylor

8. October 25 B&N, Southlands … Book Fair

9. November 4, 11, 18, 25 Amazon Bestseller Workshop … Zoom

10. November 21 Author Gathering … Online

1. Discover … Google Voice

Receive calls on any of your phone devices without giving out your personal numbers. One way to manage your time more efficiently is to have a professional business telephone number. Create a Google Voice account and grab a phone number to camouflage your personal mobile or land—what you can do, should do, is redirect the calls that come in to your mobile or land.

Mobile would be my choice—I can immediately see where the call is coming from and read a text . Signup is easy peasy through your Google profile and includes voice messages. Then, connect /link your land line or cell phone number and you are ready to go.  

https://voice.google.com/u/0/about

2. Use and Take Advantage … IBPA

Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 3,500 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

Upon joining, you'll receive access to over a hundred benefits that are specially designed to help you thrive as a publisher, as well as tools to help you sell your books into key sales markets. These competitive advantages and benefits pay for membership and then some. 

Member benefits include: 

• Effective and low-cost book marketing programs to increase exposure to consumers, bookstores, libraries, and more 

• Free monthly educational webinars and six copies of our bi-monthly print magazine, IBPA Independent 

• Deep discounts on essential publishing services, including IngramSpark, Kirkus Reviews, Bowker, FedEx, Publishers Weekly BookLife reviews, BookBaby, Grammarly, and more  

• In-person and virtual networking with other indie publishers 

• Member discount to our annual conference, IBPA Publishing University 

• Access to the largest book trade shows in the world, including the American Library Association (ALA) Conference, the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, and more.

AuthorU members get a $30 discount. Use code: AuthorYOU30

3. Join in Author Gatherings are happening THIS Saturday 8 AM MT … Zoom only for publishing and book marketing answers in October 10th and November 21st. Have Questions? Get answers. And, it’s a freebie!

ONLINE on Saturday in October and November. October 10^th at 8 am … you must register to get your name on the approved list to participate. The alter dates are due to committed book fairs and book signings. 

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

Join Zoom Meeting:
Link: https://zoom.us/j/93931497233?pwd=GPjy72qizD0mDsSlyFJb8wfq8A5bzx.1
Passcode: AU

Delivered 8 months a year ONLINE for global and housebound members and 4 times IN-PERSON for those in Colorado. Registration happens on the Author Gathering Meetup site.

To register for the October 10^th and November 21^st FREE session starting at 8.00 am MT, use this link to register for the October and November ONLINE Zoom sessions: https://www.meetup.com/authorgathering/

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. If not, the session will be canceled and all members will be notified by an email announcement via Meetup.

4. Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your eBook Online Course in 4 weeks! Only 4 Spots Left!

Next series starts on 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. Hot Podcasts Slated 

for October

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

October 1 Podcast … GoodJelly Productivity for Authors and Writers … Christine Carron

October 8  Podcast … Scams Are Multiplying … Deb Eckerling

October 15 Podcast … Book Marketing Using Unique Days … Judith Briles

October 22 Podcast … Loosing Book Buyers Lips … Ellen Naylor

6. Question of the Week ... What Would You Suggest for Getting Unstucked?

My Answer: Start with your WHO. The WHO is WHO you are writing and publishing for. What is their pain? Their problems? Your words will ease, soothe, and relieve it. Now write. The WHO is WHO needs and wants your book. Your words, your book, will ease, soothe, and relieve it. Now, market your book to the WHO. And, give your WHO a real NAME … I talk to mine often.

7. 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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