Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / The Author Gathering

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

I create books authors never have to apologize for …

In this Issue

1. Discover ... Hacker Alert: The Beekeeper Movie

2. Meet ... Book Help U Write

3. The Author Gathering … This Saturday ONLINE

4. Amazon Bestseller … June 3, 10, 17, 24

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

6. Question of the week … Should I do an audiobook?

7. Smile time … I Will Survive!

Last weekend was a bookstore jammed packed selling marathon. Saturday found six local authors and one of the AuthorU Texas members, Charles Breakfield in the Ft Collins Barnes & Noble store and on Sunday, the Colorado Blvd. store. From the opening until 5 pm, selling our own books and plus chatting it up with hundreds of store fans. What is awesome about BN is that it supports the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame Aspiring Author scholarships with a percentage of overall store sales going toward the kitty ... WOOT!

If you missed us … there is a “wait … wait … more to come. The day before Mother’s Day, we will be in the Centerra store in Loveland and on the 16th, Southlands. Joining the team is newly, hot-oo-the print run author ay Nakagawa with his The UnConventional Strategist business book. Drop to say hello … and buy books. Graduation gifts. Birthday gifts. Mother’s Day, Father’s Day. And of course, YOU.

1. April 23 Podcast … The Mind of the Writer - Get Your Book Done … Dom Testa

2. April 25 … BN Book Fair, Fort Collins

3. April 26 … BN Book Fair, Colorado Blvd

4. April 30 Podcast … Discover the Power of the Weeklies … Bob Sweeney

5. May 2 … The Author Gathering … Zoom Only

6. May 7 Podcast … Creating Strategic Author Success … Judith Briles

7. May 9 BN Book Fair, Loveland

8. May 14 Podcast … The Future of Authoring & Publishing … Tom Frey

9. May 16 … BN Book Fair, Southlands

10. May 21 Podcast … Fire Horse Editing & Writing … Barb Wilson

11. May 28 Podcast … Fire Horse Writing & Publishing … Dan Janal

Why? If you are online … and you are if you are reading this … your accounts are at risk … an innocent, naive click away. This past week, I have had so many reportings from others of hacking events on their accounts. Because a massive hack of a computer sets the stage to put the Beekeeper in motion. Then the reveal in the next 15 minutes of the true behind the scenes and how hackers are trained to manipulate a caller. It’s a hack that could happen to you … to me … and a hack that I know has dramatically impacted several authors I know that have been bamboozled by the internet cons. Mega thousands of dollars have been stolen.

It’s the hack that most of us have seen or heard about. The one that a voice pops up and your computer screen is hijacked. A warning—do not turn your computer off—is played. What do you do? Millions have called the “official” looking logo and the phone number. And when that happens … will it’s not a good thing.

Be forewarned. Call your computer tech. Press escape. DO NOT CALL the number. Watch The Beekeeper. Alert. There is violence in it. The Beekeeper is going to stop the “entity” that destroyed the one person who was kind to him.

Carolyne Ruck
Help-U-Write
Email: 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.`

The Author Gathering for Your Book Publishing Success

May 2, 8 to 9.30 ... ZOOM

May opens up a strategy session on how to defrost what isn't working on how to open up new avenues for your author success .. about you; about your book ... about what? It's part of your author infrastructure.

Join Zoom Meeting

For AuthorYOU members only. For AuthorU members only. It's your First Saturday MasterMind gathering ... think of the Author Gathering as having a mini Advisory Board. Gatherings are a benefit for fully paid members of the [AuthorU.org](http://authoru.org/) community. If less than 5 register by NOON the Friday before, it will be canceled.

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

Passcode: AU

May 2nd delivers a landscape of ideas for authors. Creativity is at its peak before the summer heat rears its head. Marketing ideas flow like a mountain stream. What's blooming in your word and book garden?

AS ALWAYS, All gatherings start with a virtual flip chart and a question: what do you need? The morning is then off ... who knows what paths it will take? Is there a book in the works? Are you stuck? Curious about the various publishing options? Ask your questions ... AND participate. The value of the group is to give, not just take.

The Author Gatherings participants are true masterminds. Each gathering will expand your projects and the breadth of your success. If you want to make your book happen ... here's the inner circle that has ideas and experience to kick-start it, goose it and just get the launch started. Your answers are in the room.
It's on the Meetup Up page.

This Event is exclusively for AuthorU Members.

To Join AuthorU, visit https://www.authoru.org/j-o-i-n ... and sign up for a VIP AuthorYOU Membership.

The value of the group is to give, not just take. The Author YOU SALON participants are true masterminds. The GATHERINGS are created to expand your projects and the breadth of your success. If you want to make your book happen ... here's the inner circle that has ideas and experience to kick-start it, goose it and just get the launch started. Your answers are in the room.

Sign up for our next sessions for June 3, 10, 17, 24

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

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

Requirements:

Two hours of your time online each week via Zoom with Judith Briles. Late Wednesday afternoon will be our start time.
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 and BookBrush.

April 2 AI Hacks for Authors … Tom Antion

April 9 IP Protection for Authors, Part 1 … Colin O’Brien

April 16 IP Protection for Authors, Part 2 … Colin O’Brien

April 23 The Mind of the Writer - Get Your Book Done … Dom Testa

April 30 Discover the Power of the Weeklies … Bob Sweeney

May 7 Creating Strategic Author Success … Judith Briles

May 14 The Future of Authoring & Publishing … Tom Frey

May 21 Fire Horse Editing & Writing … Barb Wilson

May 28 Fire Horse Writing & Publishing … Dan Janal

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.