Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Insights to copyrights and AI webinar in May

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.

In this Issue

1. Discover … Free Canva Zoom Background Templates

2. Meet Author Help … Meet Total Printing Systems

3. Replay … Book Marketing Mischief

4. May Special Program … Getting Your Book into Schools

5. May Webinar … Copyright in the Age of AI

6. June AuthorU Program … Digital Marketing Strategies

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

8. Author Salons … May posted-get registered

9. Question of the week … Will my book cover sell books?

10. Smile time … Tim Conway and Cow Milking

This week promises some warmth and sun. With the freeze from last week, will the leaves that were surfacing still come forth is my question. And Saturday, I will do some “pot” planting outside and working on an all new bookstore promo idea.

On the rescheduled Mischief Book Marketing, Brian Jud gave a bonus to all the LIVE attendees—he’s sending them his book, How to Make Real Money Selling Books—it pays to show up! The replay is below.

Two special gatherings for May are popping.

If you have a book…or books…that you would love to get into schools, I have a special morning workshop on May 19. It is limited to 20 with Jane Wood, author of Schools-get your book into schools. Half are sold and it’s IN-PERSON only. And no, I am not recording it. Details below.

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.

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.

With almost 4,000 downloads, I grabbed International Bestseller in four countries a week ago when I decided to set up a solo run with my techique and did a “set it and forget it” strategy. And the TaDah happened. Thank you to readers in the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

    #1 Quick & Easy Cooking
    #1 Casseroles
    #1 Meal Cooking
    #1 Cookbooks-Food & Wine
    #1 Comfort Food Cooking

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 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 marketing fiction book: Book Coaches, Developmental editing with a smidge of AI. Dan Janal is my guest. Listen in only or watch and listen on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudithBrilesTheBookShepherd/podcasts

1. April 24 Podcast Coaching, Editing, and AI with Dan Janal

2. May 3 AuthorU Monthly program – Strategic Digital Marketing

3. May 8 Podcast – Copyright and AI

4. May 10 Author Salons – online and in-person

5. May 15 Podcast – Book Marketing Timelines

6. May 15 Podcast – tbd

7. May 15 Podcast – tbd

8. May 19 Special Meeting – Get Your Books in Schools

9. June 4, 11, 18, 25 Amazon bestseller workshop

10. June 7 AuthorU Monthly program – Strategic Digital Marketing

11. June 14 Author Salons – online and in-person

You gotta admit … the folks at Canva are fast. With the world Zooming, Canva has jumped into the “Background” game.

The Canva site now has a whole category of Zoom templates for customizing—everything from professionally branded backgrounds to fun ones for virtual happy hours (think the TV show Friends coffee shop, the Golden Girls’ kitchen, families—you name it. Most are free, but some images cost a credit or are only available with the paid Canva accounts. You will need to explore the site.

Check them out here: https://www.canva.com/zoom-virtual-backgrounds/templates/

Meg Souza, Marketing Manager
Phone: 800-465-5200 or 734-507-1148
E-mail: Meg@TPS1.com Website: www.TPS1.com

Total Printing Systems is committed to pushing technology further, utilizing the strengths of technology and combining those strengths with over 25 years of experience in the book manufacturing industry. The result of this combination of technology and experience has brought Total Printing Systems to the forefront of the digital book manufacturing industry.
Total Printing Systems does not just refer to you as a customer. We consider every business opportunity a chance to establish a long term partnership. Our goal is loftier at Total Printing Systems than the traditional customer-supplier model in this industry. We want to establish new friendships as well. Our customers become print partners.

Our print partners range from young to well-seasoned, from micro publishers to large fortune 500 companies. Whether you have one title or are an established publisher with tens of thousands of titles, you can have confidence in Total Printing Systems as a capable, cost-effective, and conscientious candidate for management of your project.

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://www.authoru.org/event-details-registration/getting-your-books-into-schools

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.

Answer: According to cover designers, the answer is MAYBE … there are NO GUARANTEES … but there sure are ways to get the odds in your favor. The cover is definitely a draw—the beacon that catches the potential buyer’s eye. For covers, think: less is more. Too many authors clutter up their covers with too, too much—sometimes images; sometimes words.

It’s research time. What are the current books that are selling well displaying? Search Amazon. And, if you can, get to a brick and mortar bookstore. What’s hot? What looks like it’s a trend? Hint—NY books have a “feel/look” to them—fonts, colors, and yes, use of imagery. Book selling is a competition. Yours should look like it’s in the race.

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.