Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Book Marketing Mischief rescheduled

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.

In this Issue

1. Discover … Data Blockers

2. Meet Author Help … Create or Revamp your website

3. April Webinar … Mischief Book Marketing - rescheduled

4. April Unplugged … Press Releases this Friday – one spot left

5. May Author U Program … Digital Marketing Strategies

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

7. Author Salons … May posted - get registered

8. Question of the week … Should I do a pre-publication pitch for my book?

9. Smile time … How did the dog do it?

When I get up and move into my office with a mug of tea, the first thing I check is the weather app on my phone. Hey… I’m in Colorado and we have such a swing in weather. Monday was a good day to stay in—windy and chilly. Tuesday was sunny and warm. By Friday, the snow appears through Saturday.

I’m still springing forward. On my front porch by the door is a hanging Easter basket wreath. It will come down within two months. For the third year, a mama finch is built a next at the back of it and will settle in a lay three to five blue eggs, each the size of a jelly bean. My camera is ready to catch the wonderment that always thrills me.

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 Marketing Fiction Formula for Authors with Brian Juds on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. Listen in only or watch and listen on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudithBrilesTheBookShepherd/podcasts

1. April 17 Podcast - Book Marketing Fiction Formula for Authors

2. April 18 ASK Judith Zoom —Publishing and Book Marketing

3. April 18 Create Sizzling Press Releases Unplugged - Online

4. April 22 Podcast Book Marketing Fiction Formula for Authors with Brian Jud

5. April 19 Create Sizzling Press Releases Unplugged In-Person

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

7. May 3 AuthorU Monthly program – Strategic Digital Marketing

8. May 8 Podcast – Copyright and AI

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

10. May 15 Podcast – Book Marketing Timelines

Juice Jacking is hot … and scary. The smart author … and consumer … needs to be wary of ANY public source for recharging electronic devices via USB ports. Did you know that if malware is in play, that any information you have on your mobile, computer, what else … can be tapped into in seconds—meaning passwords, contracts, banking info, etc.? A stealth hacker’s delight for sure. UGH. Get a data blocker for your protection pronto—there are inexpensive. Here’s the one I use—I carry in purse, back pack, car, and an extra in suitcase when I’m on the road: https://amzn.to/3MMIMlJ

Rebecca Finkel
owner | designer

Rebecca@FPGD.com
970-223-1375
www.FPGD.com
Authors need a website to reach their audience. Rebecca Finkel of F + P Graphic Design works with you to create website promoting both you as a writer and your book. She is a creative problem solver and an inspired website designer. Ask her for a a list of the sites she's working on. She designed this website.

Visit FPGD.com to see some of her latest projects. She would be happy to start a conversation with you about your book, website, and/or eBook.

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.

Register NOW: https://bit.ly/MischiefMarketing

Date: Tuesday, April 22 at Noon MT … 11 PT, 12 MT, 1 CT, 2 ET
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. The session will be recorded.

Suggestion: there will be many websites and resources identified. Suggestion you have paper and pen ready to go.

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.

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.