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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors

Newsletter Issue #338 – June 19, 2024

Publisher: Judith Briles

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.

In this Issue

1. Author Tips & Tools ... Discover AnyVoo

2. Author Benefit ... Richard Rieman, Audiobooks

3. June Author Webinar … Book Positioning is June 20-tomorrow

4. Hot podcasts for June … Add to your calendar and listen

5. Salons … July and August are available to register

6. Question of the Week … How do I approach a bookstore for a signing?

7. Book Shepherd “Smile” of the Week … Jeanne Robertson humor

Denver’s mercurial Tattered Cover awaits approval from the Bankruptcy Court for Barnes & Noble to take over ownership and operations.

I’m optimistic for authors and the community of Colorado. My experiences with working with the managers and staff of many of the BN stores has been positive for the members of the AuthorU.org community. We sell cases of books every time we are in a store and we get paid. BN has been instrumental in the creation of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame through its Book Fairs.

In 2023, the Hall honored BN and the stores in the Metro Denver area for Community Achievement and Best Bookseller for Authors.

With Summer Solstice, it’s often a time to take a few days and relax. And it’s also the time to noodle what’s next for the final quarter of the year. What’s next. Do the list thing … but then prioritze. Just focus on the must do—the nice to do will have its turn.

Deadlines are happening this month is the book award world. American Fiction Awards and Best Book Awards have deadlines to enter. The blog I wrote last week is an update on many of the awards for your consideration. Get it here: https://bit.ly/2024BookAwards

The AuthorU community will be doing a special webinar with Bublish on the 20th. There’s a nifty tool you will want to grab. Details are below to register.

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.

Do you revolt when you see some of the virtual backgrounds that are the norm for many on the online presentations? Me too—especially the ones that fade in and out; cut off hair and faces if the speaker moves their face just a tad; and of course, the ones that are clearly unprofessional—as in bedrooms with unmade made or rooms in disarray. It’s time to discover AnyVoo.

Thinking marketing forward every time you are on an online video anything. You can create a customizable fabric background that stretch over a frame that you then attach to a stand (meaning it’s portable) or hang from the wall behind you. It’s reversible, so you have two background options. Think of your logo, tag line, even your book covers. From $206. Kinda cool. https://AnyVoo.com

Are you ready to join the Audiobook and Video Book Revolution?
Richard Rieman

Richard@ImaginationVideobooks.org
703-597-8046
https://ImaginationVideobooks.org/
https://AudiobookRevolution.com

Discover Imagination Videobooks and the Audiobook Revolution if you want to:

· Decide the best way to produce, distribute, and market your money-making audiobook.

· Look for a great audiobook narrator.

· Be an independent publisher looking to create audiobook versions of your titles.

· Look for audiobook masterclasses online.

· Get tips on audiobooks and audiobook creation.

· Want to create a Children’s Video Book.

· Want audiobook and videobook success.

What Is Book Positioning and Why Does It Matter?

In this one-hour webinar, you'll learn about book positioning—one of the most critical but also one of the most overlooked steps in the publishing process.

You'll learn the necessary steps to position your book for optimal discoverability and sales as well as how to do important research to inform your decisions throughout the positioning process.

Finally, you'll learn the best time is to position your book and how effective positioning informs a professional publishing timeline and process. And, of course, we'll leave time at the end to answer your questions.

Registration: https://bit.ly/BookPositioning2024

Answer: It starts with a phone call … and be prepared with your initial pitch. It could also start with personally visiting the bookstore you want to do a signing. On the phone, ask for the manager or the individual who sets up INSTORE author signings. Introduce yourself and tell them you the author of a fantasy/sci-fi/womens fiction—whatever—book and the title. That you would be honored to do a signing at their store and invite friends and contacts to attend. Saturdays are usually best. Listen to the response. They may want you to send something—be prepared to give the ISBN if they ask and they will check if they can order it through Ingram. Some may allow a consignment arrangement.

In Person will require the same approach. Take a one-sheet of your book and the actual book with you. Decisions are often made quickly.

Part of your job is to get visitors there as well. Think swag—bookmarks, posters, a vertical banner or one for your table.

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 that generates over 250,000 downloads a month. Her website is www.TheBookShepherd, email: JudithBriles.com and phone: 303-885-2207.