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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors
Newsletter Issue #371 – February 5, 2025
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Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors
Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.In this Issue
1. Author Tools
… Discover Just Delete Me
2. Meet Author Help … Meet Caspicom
3.
Author Talk … Hall of Famer Mary Kelly
4. Two Unpluggeds … FEB Sizzling Press Releases & MAR Speaking
5. AuthorU Program … ASK Judith on 3rd Friday Forward
6. Hot podcasts for February … Add to your calendar and listen
7. Author Salons … February 8th Online and In-Person
8. Question of the week … Which Hashtag should I use
9. Smile time … You don't own me
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This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s ® Roof
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Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU … and
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Two new books will be added to my authorship this year. Never did I think I would write a cookbook … but it happened, after years of friends and clients encouraging me to do so, Cooking with Judith-Comfort Food Can be WOW
Food is available as of yesterday. Available in print and Kindle … here’s the link to grab your copy: https://amzn.to/40Yp0NZ
And my co-author Brian Barnes and I can see THE END coming soon on Book 3-The Secret Rise this month. The cover is in final tweaks and the full manuscript will move to our fiction editor within two weeks.
And WOOT … my casted left hand has left the building, replaced by the left braced hand for another five weeks mixed with physical therapy. The joy of taking a full shower without having my arm wrapped in a trash bag was bliss. And being able to wash my hair with both hands for the first time since November 17 … the best!
For those of you who missed out on Saturday's AuthorU program of Book Contest Judging, you missed out big time. The replay was sent our only to VIP AuthorU members. On March 1, Crystal Clear Characters will roll out. Again, it its FREE to VIP AuthorU members. Otherwise, pay $25. Details and registration for the March 1 program on Creating Crystal Clear Characters will be posted next week.
This Saturday is AuthorYOU
Salons—are you coming? It’s schmoozing and learning with other authors and coming aways with tips galore. https://www.meetup.com/authoryousalons/
Smart Thoughts ... This week, Rebecca Finkel joins me on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. It’s all about 2025 trends in book and cover design … including the 7-second rule. Listen in only or watch and listen on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudithBrilesTheBookShepherd/podcasts
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| It’s February … Library Lovers Month—grab a variety of quotes for encouraging others, and yourself, to read, read, read and visit the library.
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| And it’s Woof Wednesday ... as an author, marketing is essential, from the get-go. Social media is an essential resource for your book marketing. What are your doing to build your influence? It’s all about persistence and perseverance ... over time.
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Author Salons are on the second Saturday of each month—they are always the second Saturday of the month details posted below. FEBRUARY will have both ONLINE and IN-PERSON gatherings if enough sign up for them. Remember, if there isn’t a minimum of five participants by Friday afternoon, the session will be cancelled. The Salons are a benefit with AuthorU membership, the next date is Saturday, February 8.
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Don’t forget to check out my new site JudithBrilesBooks.com is totally dedicated to just my writing. And I’ll be introduction my new Judith’s Readers Circle—one of the goodies I’ll be giving aways is a mini cookbook of some of my personal recipes. Join and download it. I’m already getting feedback from those who are using the recipes I shared.
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| Kudos for our podcast, AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing … I’m honored that our podcast is ranked in the TOP 10 podcasts for book marketing for authors by Mashable and Feedspot. AND, that Goodpods identifies it in its Top 100. It’s all about patience and persistence over seven years!
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Are you getting my Tuesday and Saturday BLOGS? Tuesday is about info and meaty—all designed for your author and publishing success. Saturday is about chewy and re-juicing.
Read in less than a minute. Make sure you are registered to get them: https://thebookshepherd.com/author-newsletter/
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That’s my week … how’s yours? Lots of happenings below.
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Have you subscribed to my new YouTube author and
publishing tips channel? Always less than three minutes … a new one pops up five days a week, Monday through Friday. Become a subscriber and take a peek—there are already 190 short videos posted: https://bit.ly/Author-PublishingTips
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Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? … Holy Moly … over 21 million downloads now of various podcasts since the podcast started six years ago.
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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.
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Add these to your calendar now. Details will all be posted under the Events tab on the website.
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1. February 5, 12, 19, 26 - Amazon Best Seller workshops
2. February 6 –Podcast - Getting Your Book Ready for Book Awards
3. February 8 Author Salons ONLINE and IN-PERSON
4. February 12 Author Talk with Mary Kelly
5. February 13 Podcast - Book Designer Trends
6. February 20 Podcast - Pitching and Working with Bookstores
7. February 21 ASK Judith Zoom time—Publishing and Book
Marketing
8. February 21 Create Sizzling Press Releases Unplugged – In-Person
9. February 22 Create Sizzling Press Releases Unplugged – online
10. February 27 – Podcast - Writing the Ultimate Press Release
11. March 1 What Color Is Your Writing?
12. March 2-9 Publishing at Sea
13. March 6 Podcast – Writing --What's Working and What's Not
14. March 12 Author Talk with Helen Thorpe
15. March 13 Podcast – What Color Is Your Writing?
16. March 15 - Barnes & Noble book signings Colorado Blvd.
17. March 16 - Barnes & Noble Book Signing Superior Colorado
18. March 20 Podcast – Digital Marketing
19. March 21 ASK
Judith Zoom time—Publishing and Book Marketing
20. March 21 Speaking Unplugged – In-Person
21. March 22 Speaking Unplugged – online
22. March 27 Podcast - Avoiding the Most Common Author Mistakes
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AuthorYOU members … the February second Saturday AuthorYOU Salon is slated for Saturday, the 11th. ONLINE from 7 am to 8.30 MT and IN-PERSON from 9 to 11. Remember, there must be a minimum of five participants outside of me if they are registered by Friday noon, the day before. If not, I will cancel. Info is below … you need to be registered to attend. On the meetup site, February registrations are open.
https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/
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I love mentoring authors, and their books, and supporting their vision. If you want intense, one-on-one time with me over a several-month period PLUS the ability to call me or email with a quick response, join my Mentor Program. There is ONE spot open —if you want an accelerated six months that deals with your infrastructure; your influence building; your what? … this may be the missing ingredient in your mix.
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Want tips for Authoring, Marketing and Publishing?
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Each month, you will get a variety of topics on our monthly podcast. Never a repeat program … always fresh, listen in. http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast ...Every Tuesday, a new blog is posted. On Wednesdays, a new edition of this newsletter. On Thursdays, a new podcast. SHARE THEM with your author friends.
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Stay involved—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 or RENEW AuthorYOU today.
Benefits galore. https://mp.gg/e9d1o
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| 1 Author Tools – Discover Just Delete Me
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Smart authors start deleting their accounts on sites no longer used. You can ... but many platforms don’t make it easy.
JustDeleteMe spells out the steps to delete accounts for hundreds of popular sites. It is a directory of direct links to delete your account from web services. https://JustDeleteMe.xyz
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| There’s also a sister site that has links to companies so you can request reports of the data they have on you. JustGetMyData –
Here’s a free guide to help you out: Free Guide: Remove personal information from the internet (joindeleteme.com)
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| 2 Meet Member Benefit … Caspicom and Tech Help
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Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am-7pm MT Sat: 9am-5pm MT Sun: CALL or text
Do you have IT Problems? Do you want computer and tech chaos resolved?
Vasif Aimuradov and Caspicom
Computer Repair Services can help! Caspicom specializes in PC and Laptop repair and support for small companies and individuals in the Denver Metro Area.
It’s as-needed professional services include ongoing PC/Laptop maintenance, network setup, data backup and recovery, virus and spyware removal, software and hardware installations and upgrades, remote support, and much more.
What’s the Caspicom difference?
· No travel fees
· Free diagnosis
· Same or next-day service
· Arrives on time
· Highly competitive rates
· 7 days a week service
· No weekend or after-hours upcharges
· All 5-star Google customer ratings
Vasif’s mission is to develop long and successful relationships by providing high-quality customer service and up-to-date technical knowledge.
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| Wednesday Author Happy Hour - Mary Kelly
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Mary Kelly (US Navy (retired), shares her experiences in leadership globally. It has led to 20 books, including the award-winning bestselling Master Your
World, 15 Ways to Grow Your Business in any Economy, Money Smart; 360 Degrees of Leadership, Stop the Barking, and In Case of Emergency Break Glass.
Join bestselling Colorado Authors Hall of Fame Inductee Mary Kelly as she takes center stage and reveals her journey to becoming an author and trendsetter for business, self-help, and leadership books ... oh the places she has been ... and will go.
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| Who Is Mary Kelly?
· Mary is the author of 20 leadership and productivity books.
· Winner of the Gold Nonfiction Book Award and IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for Who Comes Next?
· She has trained more than 40,000 military and civilian personnel.
· She spent 25 years of active duty in the Navy.
· She was a military professor at the Naval Academy and a civilian professor at the Air Force Academy.
She was inducted into the Colorado Authors Hall of fame in 2023.
Author
Happy Talk is live the second Wednesday of each month and features one of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame Inductees.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email. On Wednesday morning, you will get a reminder and the Zoom link.
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In- Person Friday, February 21
8.30 am to 12:30 P.M MT
Online Saturday, February 22
9.30 am to 2:30 P.M MT
Space is limited to 5 participants each
for Online and In-Person
Do you want to shout out news … about your book, your happenings, YOU?
You can. And I will help you.
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Are willing to invest one Saturday morning to create a strategy and write a press release with my guidance in just 4 hours? A press release that will be ready to send out to the media the next Monday? And a press release that I will personally release to my media contacts for the extra boost to support you?
The Create Sizzling Press Releases Unplugged will create the structure, help you write your customized press release, and a template for you going forward. The reason that it is limited to five participants is that I’m coaching and rewriting with you. The goal is that you will walk away with a “done” task. And it will be fun.
If you want to be seriously successful in your media outreach, you need to be here.
Online Saturday, February 22
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and learn how to create, implement, and execute press releases. When you sign up … I will send you a short list of “to do” items before our session.
Your Requirements:
1. 4 hours of your time online via Zoom or In-Person with Judith Briles on a Saturday morning. This is not a webinar, it’s live, coaching to get it done.
2. An “I can do this attitude” and commitment to do the work during our workshop.
Early bird ends on February 10th
In- Person Friday, February 21 - Cost: $297
Online Saturday, February 22 - Cost: $297
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Speaking Unplugged
March 22 ONLINE
March 21 - In-Person
8:30 A.M - 2:30 P.M.
If you want to sell books ... as it LOTS of THEM? Speaking on them, and your expertise, is the #1 way to do it. Do you have my book, How to Create a Million Dollar Speech? This full day workshop is an intense and FUN interactive and woven with live individual coaching.
· Zoom is the Online meeting spot.
Space is limited to a max of 10 participants. Starts at 9 am to 4.00 pm each day. Get registered before Tuesday. Alumni participants of other Unplugged events are always discounted.
https://bit.ly/JBSpeakingUnplugged
Get my book, How to Create a Million Dollar Speech HERE: https://bit.ly/CreateSpeech
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about
Book Publishing and Book Marketing
The Book Shepherd is YOURS for 60 Minutes!
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The Book Shepherd, Judith Briles is YOURS for 60 minutes on Friday, January 10th to ask any question you have about book publishing, book marketing, writing a book ... or just getting a "little juice" to start your engines after the Holiday rush from the past few weeks.
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 60 minutes to seed your2025 success... and why not? Grab your favorite beverage; just listen in ... or ASK, ASK, ASK! It's time to re-juice and rekindle your author energy!
Join Zoom Meeting – click on it or copy/paste
https://zoom.us/j/95000476418?pwd=3ZRTEhb1TDrTvzcjps9ov0r3Tpihbg.1
Passcode: will be sent
Add to Your Calendar: Friday, February 21 at 3 MT (2 PT, 5 CT, 5 ET)
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Hot podcasts slated for February
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Ranked in the Top 10 podcasts for book marketing for authors by FeedSpot.
December is a “redux” month. I’ve identified the top five podcasts that aired in 2024—all worth your learning and listening pleasure ... whether the first time or a repeat. Starting with #4 this week … #1 was a tied, so two will be revealed!
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February 6 2025 Book Cover and Interior Moxie - Rebecca Finkel
February 13 Book Awards Judging Tips - Jules Marie
February 20 Creating Crystal Clear Characters - Mara Purl
February 27 Creating WOW Bookstore Events - Judith Briles
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| Question of the Week ... Which hashtags should I use?
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Answer: You need to probe a bit and get some answers. Who are your ideal buyers? What are their interests? What social media platforms do they use? What are the key words and phrases that best describe your genre, your expertise? What key words and phrases do other authors in your genre using in their social media posts? What social media platforms are they using? That’s a start. At this point, you should have many hashtags to select. Experiment and see which ones appear to grow your presence; bring attention to
your website; even increase book sales. Use a website that IDs hashtags of Instagram or a “best hashtags” and add your key words. Sites like: https://best-hashtags.com/
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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 –You Don’t Own Me with Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn …women power is a hoot with these three. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRLdtDYoVX8
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Get your copy today – it’s my life on steroids … earning a Baker’s Dozen plus ONE in book awards. Now Available in Print, eBook, Audiobook. http://bit.ly/whengodsaysno
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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.
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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
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| Author Friendly Friday this week …
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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.
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| It’s for paid subscribers ONLY and we do it on Zoom.
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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/
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Podcast has expanded to 11 networks … Follow us and learn …
new shows every Thursday.
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 eleven podcast channels. How cool is that? Listeners can tune into the weekly (always new – no repeats) show on:
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That’s my author and publishing news for today … what’s yours?
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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.
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©2025 Judith Briles - The Book Shepherd™ All Rights Reserved.
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