Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Get Your Books into Schools

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

I create books authors never have to apologize for …

In this Issue

1. Discover … MockUp Shots

2. Meet Author Help … Meet BlueInk Book Reviews

3. Replay … Book Marketing Mischief

4. May Special Program … Getting Your Book into Schools – 10 spots open

5. May Webinar … Copyright in the Age of AI

6. June AuthorU Program … Digital Marketing Strategies

7. Hot podcasts for May … Add to your calendar and listen

8. Author Salons … May posted-get registered

9. Question of the week … My new editor wants me to alter my manuscript—should I?

10. Smile time … Shadow Art fun

My exciting news … at least for me … is that after 15 months, Finally, a week ago, I graduated from 15 months of therapy—knees, legs, hip, hand, wrist, and fingers. What a ride and one that I wish on no one … well, most no ones--it was not fun.

Where I was basically house bound except for medical since February of 2024, I’m looking forward to gardening and summertime and being outside on an ongoing basis.

I always like to share news about the AuthorU community. Two of our members has special offers this week and I encourage you to take advantage of them.

And starting Thursday through Saturday, Marl Purl is debuting her latest novella, When Birds Sing. At the same time, celebrate National Bird Day! The eBook is a freebie. Here’s the link to download: https://bit.ly/WhenBirdsAmz

I’m looking forward to the two events popping in May.

1. On Monday, May 19, a special morning program will be held at my home limited to 20 authors. Includes lunch and the book, Schools, get your book into schools expert Jane Wood will be my guest and speaker. It is half sold out. Info below.

2. On May 21, a webinar will be presented in the late afternoon—Copyright and the Age of AI. You want to be in on this. It will be recorded. Details below.

Plus, on Saturday, June 7, Jules Marie comes to the AuthorU community again and reveals insights into creating digital marketing strategies. For AuthorU.org VIP members, it’s a freebie starting at 9 am and goes to 11 am. If you are a nonmember, it’s $25. Details will be posted next week. The date needed to be moved back a month from May.

Do you want Amazon success? I can make it happen for you. My next Amazon Bestseller Workshop will be on four consecutive Wednesday afternoons: June 4, 11, 18, 25. Details are here if you want a bestseller: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller/
The class is available for registration.

The AuthorYOU Salons are posted for May. Always the second Saturday of the month. Remember—there must be at least five registered for these events by the Friday before. If not, I cancel and delcare the next morning my just a JB time to do whatever. It’s schmoozing and learning with other authors and coming aways with tips galore. Get registered here—remember this is an AuthorU.org benefit. https://www.meetup.com/authoryousalons/

Podcast Thoughts ... This week, it’s about getting your book into schools if its for students. Jane Wood, joins me for a fast hour and lots of tips in what to do to make it happen. Listen in only or watch and listen on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudithBrilesTheBookShepherd/podcasts

#1 Love the short webinar … less than 30 minutes was yesterday’s!
#2 I so wished I had this expensive tool to support any online marketing I was doing via social media.
#3 And that’s a “ditto” of in print marketing for flyers and brochures.
#4 Above was created in less than 3 seconds plus hundreds more!

Watch the REPLAY of the webinar here:
https://vimeo.com/328098839

Now, Get … no GRAB … the MockupShots tool to support you going forward via the link below. Right now, it will be hard to beat this as the tool of the year!

https://www.adazing.com/briles/

You will get lifetime access to MockupShots for only $80! You can add a gazillion book covers or products covers into your account. With seconds, you have a marketing and advertising inventory that you would have paid thousands to have created. And it’s yours for $80 … now how many Starbucks is that?

A lifetime of cool and effective marketing images. Get it … you won’t like it … you will love it.

It’s magic that even Harry Potter would want.

BlueInk Review, LLC – Patti Thorn or Patricia Moosbrugger
eMail: PT@BlueInkReview.com or PM@BlueInkReview.com
Website: www.BlueInkReview.com
Services: Serious reviews of self-published books.

BlueInk Review offers honest, objective book reviews of self-published titles. Founded by Patti Thorn, former book review editor of the Rocky Mountain News, and Patricia Moosbrugger, an internationally known literary agent, BlueInk offers reviews penned by professional critics and writers whose bylines have appeared in major newspapers such as the New York Times, Washington Post and Chicago Tribune and senior level editors from major New York publishing houses such as Viking and Crown. Completed reviews run on the BlueInk website, which has special features designed to help publishers and literary agents find promising new material and to help librarians and booksellers discover titles their patrons will be interested in, such as those written by local authors or set in their regions.

AuthorYOU members get a discount to BlueInk.

April's AuthorU webinar will focus on book marketing that steps outside of social media. It’s all about Creative Ways to Put a Little Mischief in Your Book Marketing …
Register now: https://bit.ly/BookMarketingMischief

Your takeaways include:

• Promotion is more than social media.

• Not spending more money ... but tips on spending it wisely.

• Ways to "hit" people in ways that are unique and memorable.

• Creative promotional tools to stand out in a positive way.

• How to be different and better ... when you are not first.

• Embrace a catalyst for a different way of thinking.

• Ideas to help you get unstuck.

• How to be different, coordinated and targeted in your book marketing.

Brian Jud is the author of Beyond the Bookstore and How to Make Real Money Selling Books (without worrying about returns). He is a book-marketing consultant, speaker, and president of the Premium Book Club. Brian is also the Executive Director of the Association of Publishers for Special Sales.

Here’s the REPLAY link: https://vimeo.com/1077885778

Authors want to know how they can market their books to schools. Award-winning author and former teacher Jane R. Wood shares the many strategies she has used since 2004 to successfully market and sell her books to schools.

During Jane’s presentation, authors will learn how to:

· Contact schools

· Provide positive reinforcement to the schools’ curricula

· Create educational resources for your book

· Develop dynamic presentations for an author visit

Author Jane Wood shows how both teachers and students can benefit from a meaningful connection with a published author. Her book, Schools-A Niche Market for Authors will be included in the price of the workshop.

Jane is the author of six award-winning juvenile fiction books and owner of Florida Kids Press. Wood says she fell in love with the magic of words in the 4th grade and has been writing ever since.

It will be a magical morning for authors. Included in the workshop is Jane’s book and lunch. Space is limited to 20 authors.

Date: IN-PERSON ONLY … Monday, May 19

Time: 9.30

Cost: $25

Location: Judith’s offices in Aurora CO

REGISTER: https://bit.ly/BooksInSchools

Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

In a world increasingly shaped by AI-driven innovation, how do we navigate the complexities of copyright law? This presentation explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property, addressing pressing questions about authorship, ownership, and accountability.

Through real-world case studies, legal insights, and ethical perspectives, we will examine the challenges and opportunities AI brings to creative industries. Join us as we discuss strategies for creators, businesses, and policymakers to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape, fostering a fair and innovative future for all.

Date: May 21

Time:  3 PT, 4 MT, 5 CT, 6 ET

Registration:   https://bit.ly/CopyrightAI

Get ready for plenty of tips on creating digital marketing for your author success, starting with the your website.

Your take aways include:

• Aha-digital marketing includes anything that uses technology.

• Why the author website is the most important part of a marketing strategy.

• Use Yast and Pho to post metadata.

• How to create a planning calendar.

• How SEO can improve awareness of your brand.

• Why authors need to attach keywords to every page of their website.

• When to use ads.

• Why authors should create and update Google Business Page on an ongoig basis.

• Don't do Google ads-too expensive.

• What updates authors should do now on their websites.

• And, of course, much more.

This is FREE to AuthorU members.

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.