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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors
Newsletter Issue #271 – February 22, 2023
Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors
1. Author Tips & Tools ... Free Press Release Source
2. AuthorYOU VIP Member Benefit … Meet Publishers Weekly via BookLife
3. Replay Webinar for Book Sales ... Create Sizzling Non-Bookstore Sales
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February AuthorYOU Program ... Animoto Live! March 8th
5. Book Publishing Unplugged ... Get registered For March In-Person and Online Unpluggeds
6. Amazon Best-Seller ... Next workshop starts in April …
7. AuthorYOU Salons … Posted through April
8. Hot podcasts for February … Add to your calendar and listen
9. Question of the Week … How Many book reviews do I need?
10. Book Shepherd “Fun” of the Week … Sneaky cat
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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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Are you an Aspiring Author? Do you need a brush-up on Book Publishing 101? If yes, then get you to either the Online or the In-Person Book Publishing Unplugged slated for Friday, March 17 for ONLINE participants and Saturday, March
18 for IN-PERSON participants. The IN-PESON is limited to a maximum of 10 participants and is held in my offices in Colorado. Details are on TheBookShepherd.com website under the Experiences tab.
It’s another snow day here in my neck of the woods. Ugh and Brrr.
Idea ... there’s one week to nominate candidates for
consideration for the induction to the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame. Are there any authors who you think are tops in the advice ... in their storytelling... that have a connection to Colorado? Is it birth, residence, writing about, writing here? If so, how about nominating them? Info is on the www.ColoradoAuthorsHallofFame.org website. The window to do so will close February 28th.
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Until the end of the month, you can upload a book to IngramSpark for free. Use code BOOKLOVE – take advantage of this.
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| On Thursday, March 9, I will be doing a morning session of Ask Judith starting at 11 am MT – come with your questions—I’ll answer them. Registration will be open next week. Get it on your calendar for the second Thursday every other month. at 11 am MT.
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On Friday, March 10th, Author Talk Happy Hour featuring Colorado Authors Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Jenkins goes live at 5 pm MT ... it has to be 5 pm somewhere! Jerry has hit the New York Times bestseller list 21 times. He’s the author of over 200 books that have generated over 70 million books sold to date. His Left Behind series has become a classic. Come. Learn from a master storyteller and writer on Friday, March 10th.
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My Book Publishing Unplugged is set for Friday, March 17 for ONLINE participants and Saturday, March 18 for IN-PERSON participants. IN-PESON is limited to a maximum of 10 participants and held in my offices in Colorado.
Amazon Bestseller - Registrations are open for my Amazon bestseller workshops... the next session will be in ONLINE in APRIL: 5, 12, 19,
26. Details are on the Experiences tab on TheBookShepherd.com. Get registered now to participate in the next program. All programs are now scheduled for 2023 – a total of five through October
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And on May 3, 10, 17, I will be delivering my new Create and Write Snappy Sassy Sizzling Book Back Cover & Marketing Copy 3-session online workshop. Early bird details here: https://bit.ly/SizzlingCopy
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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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And it’s Woof Wednesday ... is it time for you to take that first step?
Lots of happenings below. My theme for the year, Be a DOER ... not a dreamer is off to a fast and big start. It’s the perfect few lines to noodle on and infuse yourself with inspiration each Saturday.
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Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? … Holy Moly … over 14 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 570 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 8, 15, 22, 1 Amazon Bestseller Campaign Workshop
2. March 8 Animoto Live! in the Afternoon Online, In-Person
3. March 9 Ask Judith Anything webinar
4. March 10 Authors Hall of Famer Jerry Jenkins tells all ... Zoom
5. March 11 AuthorYOU Salons – IN-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only
6. March 17 Book Publishing Unplugged – ONLINE only
7. March 18 Book Publishing Unplugged – IN-PERSON only
8. April 1 1st Saturday AuthorYOU program – TBA
9. April 8 AuthorYOU Salons – IN-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only
10. April 12 Amazon Bestseller Campaign Workshop
11. April 13 Thursdays with Judith – Questions Authors Walk – ONLINE
12. April 14 Authors Hall of Famer Margaret Coel tells all ... Zoom
13. May 3, 10, 17 Create Book Marketing Copy ONLINE
14. May 6 1st Saturday AuthorYOU program – TBA
15. May 11 Ask Judith Anything webinar
16. May 12 Authors Hall of Famer Michael Gear tells all ... Zoom
17. May 13 AuthorYOU Salons – IN-PERSON & ONLINE - AuthorYOU members only
18. May 19 Social Media Unplugged ONLINE
19. May 20 Social Media Unplugged IN-PERSON – Denver
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AuthorYOU members … the March second Saturday AuthorYOU Salon is slated for this Saturday, the 11th and
is at the ONLINE time only this month, 7 am to 8.30 MT. 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.
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 1 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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Renewals are in January for AuthorYOU …
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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
And a heads up—hold the FIRST Saturday of each month for our live event meetings—it’s
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| 1 Author Tools – PR Urgent News
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Authors are creating press releases … here’s another free source.
PR Urgent News is kind to authors—it offers a tutorial/how-to write a press release. It’s a full-service website where you distribute your news at no cost to places like Google, Bing, and MSN. Press releases are simple to create, and approval is done within 24 hours—it also has an express service for $9.95. Stuck for time … PR Urgent News will find a writer to get your words out if you don’t have time. https://www.prurgent.com/
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| 2 Meet Member Benefit … BookLife
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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. An honest and detailed
300-word review from BookLife Reviews highlights your book’s strengths and analyzes 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.
And it’s a way to get your foot in the Publishers Weekly door.
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. AuthorYOU members save 10%.
https://booklife.com/
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| 3 REPLAY The Buck Starts Here – Create Sizzling Non-Bookstore Sales
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The opportunity for selling books to non-bookstore buyers is twice that for selling through bookstores. And you can sell books non-returnable. In other words, you can double your sales, revenue, and profits—if you know what to do and how to do it.
It’s the secret sauce that authors love.
Replay Here: https://vimeo.com/801221451
- Benefits of selling to non-traditional segments.
- How to prepare for selling in non-bookstore markets.
- Tips for selling into the retail segments.
- How to sell fiction in ways and places you never thought of.
- New ways to sell in large quantities to buyers in corporations, associations and the military.
- Where to find the names of prospective buyers and how to contact them.
To participate, contact Brian Jud at BrianJud@BookMarketing.com
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| 4 March Program ... Animoto Live
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Wednesday, March 8
1 pm to 3.30 pm MT, Noon PT, 2 pm CT, 3 pm ET
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IN-PERSON, Judith and Bobby will be working with you over your shoulders in her offices starting at 1 pm on March 8th. ONLINE, we will view your screens. It’s a different program. As one attendee said the last time we did it in my conference room, “This is the most work fun I’ve had in a long time.”
Get ready to tap dance through Animoto—a terrific tool to use to create a teaser for your book; to create a video billboard for your expertise; to satisfy the SEO hunger for “feed me MORE!”
This is a "working" workshop—ahead of the start—have a folder with images that tie into your book or expertise; posters you've made; key slogans or taglines; key phrases; your photo … what else? Register for the free version on the website: https://animoto.com/ ... the odds are you will want to move from free to fee.
Our goal is that you will have an Animoto completed that you can use going forward.
We will open the door to your creativity plus outcome. Perfect.
You want to be participating on your computer—not the mobile or tablet.
LOCATION: Judith’s offices and ONLINE beginning at 1 pm MT
For IN-PESON, you must bring your laptop.
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5 Book Publishing Unplugged
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ONLINE – Friday, March 17
IN-PERSON – Saturday, March 18
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Calling all Aspiring Authors ... are you ready to take your writing, your manuscript, your book to Publishing Success?
Would you be willing to invest one day to get all the latest publishing and strategy information you need ... information and strategies that will create the Game Plan to be an awesome and seriously successful author? Either Online or In-Person.It’s Book or Bust time
March 17 – on Zoom
March 18 – Judith’s Offices
Experience a full day with Judith ... no pitches, just Judith Briles Book Publishing Unplugged delivering an amazing depth of publishing, authoring, and marketing information that she has derived from her 40 + years in the publishing field and as The Book Shepherd.
Create the bestseller you dream of ... turn into the award-winning and sought after author you aspire to ... get the answers to the questions you have ... all of them. Judith is the master book publishing coach and guide.
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| 6 Can Your Book Be an International Bestseller?
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Yes, it can. Next workshop starts in April …
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Create an Amazon Bestseller Campaign for Your
eBook Online Course in 4 weeks!
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 your bestseller action plan.
Judith’s 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.
Your Requirements:
1. 90 minutes of your time online each week via Zoom with Judith Briles. Late Wednesday afternoon will be our start time. This is not a webinar, it’s live, on-line coaching.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. A computer. A free account on either Canva or BookBrush.
Dates: April 5, 12, 19, 26
Times: 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm MT
Judith’s next Amazon Bestseller class begins in February. Four Wednesday afternoons. and are always limited it size. Info here to get registered: https://bit.ly/JanAMZ
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AuthorYOU Salons … March-April
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Register for the next few months – The Saturday AuthorYou Salon will be ONLINE only starting at 7 to 8.30am MT. AuthorYou members will be emailed the link on Friday. Salons are a Free benefit for VIP AuthorYOU members only.
RULES …
1. You must register for this.
2. If less than 5 people are registered by Noon on the Friday before, event will be canceled. No exceptions.
If you have book marketing, writing, publishing questions, get answers. Or, you just want to schmooze a bit, It’s ONLINE and IN-PERSON on the second
Saturday of each month. You MUST be a paid member of AuthorYOU.org to participate. ONLINE starts at 7 am to 8.30 am MT – IN-PERSON at 9 am MT. Here’s the link to register and getting notices/reminders forward:
Register here: https://www.meetup.com/AuthorYOUSalons/
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Hot podcasts slated for February
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February 2 Speaking Strategies- Bret Ridgway
February 9 Moneys, Grants, & Writing Resources – C Hope Clark
February 16 Instagram Power and POP – Jules Marie
February 23 Creating a Profitable Publishing Business - Michael Herman
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| Question of the Week ... How many book reviews do I need?
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Answer: As many as you can get. You’ve got to ask, re-ask,
and ask again. I know it’s a pain in the tush, but this is part of the author game. When you are out and presenting on your book—and there are buyers, get their names and emails. Send a thank your and a request to post a review with a link to where you want it to go. The smart author uses a shortener such as Bit.ly or TinyURL to customize it. And then be prepared to remind them again. Carry a SignIN sheet with you so that you can add names and emails—you never know what group you are may be with and someone(s) ask to buy your book directly from you. Be prepared.
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Funny
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 enjoy— Rescue Cat Sneaks Into His Sister's Crib At Night | The Dodo Cat Crazy
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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 it 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 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.
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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/product/author-friendly-fridays-subscription
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Podcast expands 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 that generates over 250,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.
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©2023 Judith Briles - The Book Shepherd™ All Rights Reserved.
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