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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors–

eZine Issue #111 February 12, 2020
Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

In This Issue

    
1. March program … organizing and revamping the business of authoring and publishing

2. Author Tools … Discover Bookshop … Amazon alternative

3. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Discover Book Life

4. Webinar … Ask Judith Anything TODAY

5. Speaking Unplugged … sell oodles of books moxie via the cash Cow 2-Step

6. Hot podcasts for FEBRUARY … Add to your calendar and listen/learn

7. Question of the Week … Who do I reach out for advanced book reviews?

     8. Book Shepherd "Fun" of the Week … the cat’s meow!

This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s Roof

Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU …

Last week’s podcast was about book reviews with the editor-in-chief of the Los Angeles Book Reviews. On that day, my email box contained a delightful surprise:

When God Says NO is an admirable guide to finding the gifts hidden inside tragedies. Readers looking for a way through dark times will be inspired by Briles’ memoir of dogged persistence in the face of immense challenges. -Book Life, Publishers Weekly

That was a wowsa for me. Suggestion—if you know anyone going through tough times, my memoir may be the perfect companion for them—get it here: http://bit.ly/whengodsaysno
One of the fun things we did on the cruise was put a mic in every author’s hands … and do a "quick" photoshoot of each participant? Why? Because they—and you—need a photo of you "in action" in front of an audience. The results were amazing and fun. And next month, it’s my annual Speaking Unplugged, something that any author who wants to sell oodles of books should participate in. All the Early Bird registrants will get a quick action photo shoot at the event. The EB pricing ends on February 23rd—get the details here and come to Denver and spend two awesome days with me—March 27-28. http://bit.ly/Unplugged-Speaking. Come … it’s fun and lots of take-aways. Alumni always get a discount.

Here are some of the shots that were taken on the Publishing At Sea cruise for participants "quick" speaker photo. Perfect for Speaking tab on your website.



Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? Here’s a new link to the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast SHOW page. You can select which podcast is for you from over 300 shows … the latest will always be posted on top: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

 
Add these to your calendar now. Details will all be posted under the Events tab on the website.






1. February 12 – Ask Judith Anything webinar – register online … the mic will be open!

2. March 7 – Leaping Lizards Mini Extravaganza = register online

3. March 27-28 – Speaking Unplugged early bird rates end February 23



The FEBRUARY Saturday AuthorYOU Salon will be held Saturday,– if you are an AuthorYOU.org member join me at my home—we call it Casa Quatar! All start at 8.30 am —we’ve moved the time up by popular demand!

The AuthorYOU Salons
if you are in Colorado—come for coffee or tea … it’s on me. It’s a perfect way to start your Saturday for author savvy and know-how.

Details HERE.  
https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/events/260321129/

 
Want Tips for Authoring and Publishing? Tomorrow on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast, editor-in-chief Tom Lutz joins me as we dig into book reviews and author promotion.

 
 
JOIN the new AuthorYOU …

If you don’t, it’s a publishing boo-boo. AuthorYOU promises its members a lot and delivers more. And wait ‘til you see the bundle of goodies and discounts we are starting to post on the website for Members only. All will be up before the end of the month. Yup, it’s a good idea. Not a paid-up member?

JOIN AuthorYOU today. https://mp.gg/e9d1o
And a heads up—hold the FIRST Saturday of each month for our live event meetings—

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FEBRUARY 7, 2020 …  It’s a Friday afternoon …
we couldn’t get a site to hold our gathering for Saturday AM this month

Organizing and Revamping the Business of Authoring and Publishing

Most authors all right-brainers. We like sharing our wisdom from years of experience and insights peppered with real-life situations and events that connect with our readers. We write and publish to resolve their pain and provide solutions. We love the creativity of writing, building a character who may be a bit of an oddball and dropping in unexpected twists in plot.

Your Author Kingdom is a business … yes, yes, it is. Is there a nutsiness to it? Maybe a bit of insanity? Yes, yes there is. Can you blink it away? Nope … you need some strategies to bring saneness and organization to you from the get-go.

Soooooo … are you hoping for the Business Fairy to fly in and deal with this side of your life? Stop hoping … we are going to help you out with answers to questions and beyond.

Oh-Oh … you are already writing, publishing, and selling books. Is it too late? You may be past the get-go. Good news: there is always a starting point, a review point, a makeover point. We will take you there and beyond.

In the BEGINNING, do you know:
~ What websites should you have?
~ When do you register with the State—do you need to?
~ What reports do you need to file?
~ What’s the best way to keep records?
~ What deductions are legit?
~ What taxes do you need to collect?
~ What licenses do you need?
~ If you put all charges on a credit card, do you need the receipts?
~ How should you file your sales tax?
~ If you ONLY sell wholesale on Amazon, do you need a sales tax license?
~ Should you charge sales tax if you sell out of state?
~ You need help on accounting … what should you use?
~ Should your publishing company be a sole proprietorship, an LLC or corporation?

What about ORGANIZATION … like your computer?
~ Do you ever lose files?
~ Want some awesome tips of organizing your writing? Your pictures? Your blogs? Your what?
~ How do you keep creating new material?
~ What file folders should be the minimum?

Postcards (quotes, book comparisons, presale, social media (twitter posts, LinkedIN articles, Instagram), Inventory, One page (author, book, speaker, trainer, coach), expenses, revenue, audio books advertising, eBook audiobooks , paperback advertising, interview questions, office equipment, book drafts, research, local press contacts (weekly paper, TV)

And MORE … we will talk about them all!

Answers are here. You should be too! And, bring your questions. This is a Q & A format.

Drs. Ron Beach and Judith Briles along with CPA Pat Comiskey are your guides.

EARLY BIRD ends on January 31 ... price will increase $10 forward


When
: Friday, February 7, 2020

Where: Smokey Hill Library, 5430 S Biscay Circle, Centennial, CO  80015

Time: Noon to 4

Cost:  $25 for AuthorYOU members, $35 for Nonmembers. Price increases $ 10 on December 31st.

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


2 Author Tools – Discover Bookshop – an Amazon alternative
WOOT … Bookshop, the Amazon alternative.
Bookshop is a new online bookstore is now live …

Bookshop founder Andy Hunter said that Bookshop’s sales goal for 2023 is $36 million, or 1 percent of Amazon’s sales. Both the New York Times and The New York Review of Books will link every book review and bestseller list title with Bookshop. As Amazon does, books may be discounted from the original retail price. Anyone can become a Bookshop affiliate and earn 10 percent off sales generated. Here’s the general link: https://bookshop.org/ about the site. Here’s the link to become an Affiliate: https://bookshop.org/affiliate_profile/introduction


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VIP AuthorYOU Benefit
A BookLife Review is a respectful, knowledgeable, detailed review of your book that includes a variety of marketing insights and critical assessments, all crafted by a professional Publishers Weekly reviewer who’s an expert in your genre or field. The mission of BookLife Reviews is to support indie authors through one of the most challenging parts of self-publishing: marketing the finished book.

Get an honest and detailed 300-word review from BookLife Reviews highlight your book’s strengths and analyze its potential for reaching an audience while giving you a valuable assessment of ways that future editions or future books can be made even better. Marketing insights help you target promotional efforts to the readers who are most likely to enjoy your book, and the review is designed to provide accurate, positive quotes and a pithy one-sentence takeaway aimed directly at the book’s best audience. For just $399, you're guaranteed to receive a review within six weeks (four weeks for an additional expediting fee). Marketing can be complicated and daunting; a BookLife Review will help to guide you through. You will get a discount by using this link HERE:


4 Ask The Book Shepherd ANYTHING about book publishing & book marketing!
 
Wednesday, February 12 at NOON Mountain time.

Ask Dr. Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd, ANYTHING about Book Publishing and Book Marketing - for 90 Minutes!

Join us for a webinar TODAY at 12:00 PM CST.


Register: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4092444255458458113


join me on Wednesday, February 12th … you ask her any question you have about book publishing, book marketing, writing a book ... or just getting a "little juice" to start your engines and create the Vision for 2020.

Who’s Dr. Judith Briles? Let’s start with this: she has shepherded more than 1,000 authors and created 500 best-sellers and award-winning books. She’s knowledgeable and entertaining and has personally authored 37 books that have been translated to 17 languages in earned over 30 national book awards; sold a combined 1,000,000 copies; and generated in excess of $5,000,000 in revenues from combined book sales and speaking fees. As an advocate for authors, Judith knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent/self sides. She hosts the podcast AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing on the Toginet Radio Network that generates 30,000 to 100,000 downloads a month and is the Founder of AuthorYOU.org and the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame.

Judith knows publishing inside and out from both the traditional and independent sides. She is an advocate for authors within her blogs, podcasts and speaking engagements. What’s her pet peeve? Two words: publishing predators.

Post your questions as soon as you come on ... Judith will come to you LIVE and bring you on the mic to respond to YOU and possibly ask additional questions.

It's 90 minutes to hone in your 2020 vision for author and publishing success (or deal with the 2019 leftovers!).


Webinar REPLAYS

Get Ready to Grab the Media’s Attention

Do you want to jump-start YOU as an author expert, YOUR book and YOUR publishing business in 2020?  Bet you do. Make sure you register for my first webinar of the new year in this new decade.

A good public relations campaign is an important part of getting found and known as an expert. Today, putting your PR online is essential to online marketing success and a key factor in improving your search engine optimization results. Your online PR creates links to your content, awareness of your brand, and helps build your reputation – all essentials for today’s successful authors.

- You will get: Ideas for content authors can use, from News Releases to Newsjacking

- Six methods for pushing your content online to get found (one requires only 7 keystrokes)

- How inbound links are still one of the key SEO tools, and how you can choose 39 topics that link from tens of thousands of other ExpertClick press room and news releases to your press room, and then link to promote your website.

Replay: https://vimeo.com/384983735



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Want to Sell Oodles of Books?
Join me in Colorado for my 4th Speaking Unplugged slated for March 27-28 – it’s all about creating the Cash Cow 2-Step!

BONUS---all who register by February 23, will get a professional speaker demo photo- $100 value!


A first week of February questions for all authors and authors-to-be:

Would you like to turn the book you have or are creating into a money machine that cements your expertise and authoring success?

Would you like to know how powerful you, your book and experiences are and how they can influence and change others one word at a time?

Would you like to turn your book, your ideas, your mouth into a business that creates a lifestyle woven with travel, fun, global friends and financial success?


If that’s a YES, get yourself to Denver and show up for the 4th annual Speaking Unplugged bootcamp next month. You can with the smart and savvy strategies, you will reveal in this interactive and fun intensive workshop. With over 35 years of speaking on the platform, Dr. Judith Briles will show you how to become a successful professional speaker … a speaker that will soar your book sales. Since the 80s, speaking has been her #1 way to sell books … over 1,000,000 of them!

Early Bird ends in two weeks on February 20th—prices will double. Be there, if you want to tap into the power of your wisdom, your expertise, your book (or book-to-be).

Register HERE: https://thebookshepherd.com/judith-briles-speaking-unplugged 

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Hot podcasts slated for this month
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).

February 6 Book Reviews and Author Tours – Tom Lutz

February 13 Podcasting Tips – Danielle Hampson

February 20 Turning Your Writing Grit into Pearls – Mara Purl

February 27 How to Use Ads in Your Marketing – Penny Sansevieri

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Questions of the Week:


Question: Where do I send my book to for reviews before it is published?

Answer: here’s a variety to reach out to—Book Life (Publishers Weekly), Foreword Magazine, the Library Journal, etc. For a fuller list, read on the AuthorYOU.org website:https://authoru.org/get-your-print-books-reviewed-pre-and-post-publication-2.html

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Book Shepherd "Fun" or an "Uh-Oh" of the Week

Love it when I find a fun shorty—a quick smile, a laugh out loud, a sip of tea … and back to work—perfect. Love this: the cat’s meow!

Get your copy today – Available in Print, eBook, Audiobook  http://bit.ly/1000000speech
You can pick my brain … minimum time is 30 minutes. If you need one-on-one-time with me, I’m always open for a few minutes to give you some quick input. But, and it’s a BIG BUT, many call and expect far more than a few minutes.

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 it at: https://thebookshepherd.com/pick-judiths-brain


Author Friendly Friday this week …

Join Author Friendly Fridays: a fun, sharing and a 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/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription  

Podcast expands to 7 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 now heard on SEVEN podcast channels. How cool is that? Listeners can tune into the weekly (always new – no repeats) show on:

iTunes - Player FM - Stitcher - MixCoud - Bluburry - iHeart Radio - Toginet Internet Radio

Get the latest #AuthorU-Your Guide to #Book #Publishing #podcast with @MyBookShepherd via iTunes here:   http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast

Get the latest #AuthorU-Your Guide to #Book #Publishing radio podcast with @MyBookShepherd via iTunes here:   http://bit.ly/PublishingPodcast


That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?
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.

The Book Shepherd
 
 
 
 


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