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Book Marketing and Publishing Tips for Authors
Newsletter Issue #447– July 29, 2026
Publisher: Judith Briles |
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Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors
I create books authors never have to apologize for …
In this Issue
1. Discover and Use ... WeTransfer
2. Meet ... Ashlee Bratton and Ashography
3. Get Registered … Online Author Gathering this Saturday
4. New Webinar … 30 Book Marketing & Publishing Tips in 60 Minutes
5. Get Registered for Summer AuthorYOU Food Fest … Happening on August 15
6. Hot Podcasts for July … Add to your Calendar and Listen
7. Question of the Week … What is an email signature and should I have one?
8. Smile Time … "Pink’s vocals in Chicago"
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This Week Under The Book Shepherd’s ® Roof |
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Hello and Good Publishing Day to YOU …
A huge thank you to the wizards at BookBrush. Just finishing its three-day online free author Book MarCon, I had the pleasure of presenting on Sunday,
A Dozen PLUS Killer Tools for Author Success. It was a freebie book success conference for its author members. All registered will get full replays for the three days.
And of course, in my opinion, BookBrush is one of the “killer tools” all authors should subscribe to. Use my discount code: Judith15
It’s a HAPPY DANCE for me … after four days of fencing with the Amazon KDP gods, Appetizers with Judith finally bubbled up as available on my radar Monday night at 8 pm I was surprised to see it fully live within four hours of the umpteenth tweak and upload over five days.
Get your copy here: bit.ly/4yEi6Mt
P.S. – If you get a copy, please, PLEASE, post a review on Amazon.
Now its time to set up the rolling, rolling book launch that will cover the next five months starting on August 13th. BN Southlands manager said, “Let’s do that here, too.” Allrighty—a full fall calendar is all about books! |
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Forward … this past week has had me home bound, recovering from hip replacement surgery. Looking forward to not being wheel chair bound in bookstores! Here in Colorado, I’m setting up local author book signings with Barnes & Noble Book Fairs for fall. Sunday, October 25 will be Southlands in Aurora, CO, all day |
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Beautiful orchid stems arrived at my doorstep on Monday … wowsa and thank you to my Heart Sisters.
Did you increase your KDP eBook pricing? Amazon lifted payouts to 70% of all eBooks priced between $2.99 and $12.99, up for the previous ceiling of $9.99. What does that mean to you? At $9.99, your net is $6.99 … at $12.99, it is $9.09 per eBook download from readers. I increased mine.
Definitely add the ONLINE Author Gathering for this Saturday to your am, starting at 8 am MT and ending at 9.30. Details below.
Definitely make sure you add Saturday, August 15th starting at 4 pm to your calendar. The location is my home … it’s the Author Gathering Food Fest—formerly the Author BBQ— food, author friends, and catch up. Get registered NOW. Details below. |
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On this Thursday’s Podcast
Last week, Viki King, author of How to Use the Inner Method to Soar Your Writing joined me. This week, I’m solo and it’s the goldmine podcast episode not to miss: How to Grow Your eMails with the Ultimate Opt-In. |
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Last week's blog focuses on As I Put the Final Touches on my Author Gift is all about acknowledging and using the gifts you have that you bring to your writing.
This week's focuses on tips for moving forward and getting unstuck:
If you snooze, you lose. Make sure you take a few moments to read. |
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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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Top 10 podcast for book marketing and Top 100 for book publishing tips for authors! You can always listen in via our websites: www.AuthorU.org - click on the Resources tab on the Home page—pick your podcast. |
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Have you ever explored the network website where I store all my podcasts? … Holy Moly … over 22 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. July 23 Podcast … How to Use the Inner Method to Soar Your Writing … Viki King
2. July 30 Podcast … How to Grow Your eMails with the Ultimate Opt-In … Judith Briles
3. August 1 Author Gathering, Online Only
4. August 5 Webinar 30 Book Marketing & Publishing Tips in 60 Minutes
5. August 6 Podcast … Author Mindfulness … Heather Elliott
6. August 13 Podcast … Building Community with Communicating …Terri Murphy
7. August 15 AuthorYOU Gathering Food Fest … Judith's Home
8. August 20 Podcast … How to Write a Movie in 21 Days …Viki King
9. August 27 Podcast … How to Write a Memoir … Dan Janal |
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1. Discover and Use … WeTransfer |
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One of my favorite FREE tools is WeTransfer. Oh, you can upgrade and pay—but you don’t need to 99% of the time. Here’s what I love about WeTransfer: you can send big files—or lots of them at the same time—of up to TWO gigabytes. That’s huge! Think graphics, files with lots of color … you name it via the website to the recipient. All you need is their email. They are notified that files are ready to download in seconds.
WeTransfer is fast and efficient. On my top 10 fave tools to use.
Discover the convenience and ease at www.WeTransfer.com
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2. Meet … Awesome Photographs with Ashography! |
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Every author needs photographs that soar. No photographer does them better then Ashlee Bratton and Ashography. Simply the Best.
https://Ashography.com/
Info@Ashography.com
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4. Get 30 Publishing Tips via
6 Publishing Pros … Calling All Authors and Aspiring Authors ! |
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30 + Publishing Tips in 60 Minutes from the Publishing at Sea Faculty
Join us for a webinar on WEDNESDAY, August 5, 2026, for 4 PT | 5 PM | 6 CT | 7 ET
Are you an author or an aspiring author? Get 30+ Essentials Tips in 60 Minutes for author and publishing success via the wisdom of six publishing pros. Participants will take away a variety of snap, crackle, and pop ideas to juice up their marketing, writing, publicity, and social media influence from the Publishing at Sea faculty. If that's on your TO DO list, get registered NOW. It's happening on Wednesday, August 5 at 5:00 pm MT.
Register NOW for 30 + Publishing Tips in 60 Minutes from the Publishing at Sea Faculty on Aug 5, 2026, 5:00 PM MDT.
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5. Summer AuthorYOU Gathering Food Fest … Happening on Saturday … are you coming? |
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Come to the Annual Summer AuthorYOU Gathering Food Fest
When: August 15, at 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM MDT
Where: Judith’s Home. 8122 S. Quatar Cir. Aurora, CO 80016
Join your fellow authors for some great food, fun and networking at the annual AuthorYOU Food Fest. There will of course be plenty of beer and wine.
Singles: $20
Duos: $30
Grab your spot: https://bit.ly/AuthorFoodFest
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6. Hot Podcasts Slated for July |
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Ranked in the Top 10 podcasts for book marketing for authors by FeedSpot.
July 2 Top 2026 Book Design Trends … Nick Zelinger
July 9 How to Get Your Book Reviewed … Jim C0x
July 16 Secrets to Writing Enticing and Killer Book Marketing Copy … Casey Demchak
July 23 How to Use the Inner Method to Soar Your Writing … Viki King
July 30 How to Grow Your eMails with the Ultimate Opt-In … Judith Briles
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7. Question of the Week ... What is an email signature and should I have one?
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My Answer: First part. An email signature is about YOU – your branding. It contains your “tagline”; it may mention book titles; ideal, imagery—your photo, book covers; how to contact you and your website. I do an update twice a year on mine. New version rolls out this week. It is added to every email I push out … and a modified version is on my mobile.
Second part … YES! And most likely, more than one: a few of them that would be specific to speaking, consulting, expertise, one that is “general” … I even have one for directions to my office.
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8. Smile of the Week |
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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.
Not sure if you caught Broadway’s Tony Awards 2026, but here’s a power performance by Pink in “Chicago”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgWGDQn-IYI&list=RDOgWGDQn-IYI&start_radio=1
Enjoy a few minutes … and ooh and ahh … my two bits.
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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.
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/author-friendly-fridays/ |
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Want tips for Authoring, Marketing and Publishing? |
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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, and 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. You can book time with me at: https://thebookshepherd.com/pick-judiths-brain |
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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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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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Follow us, listen, and learn … new shows every Thursday. 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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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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Podcast has expanded to 11 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
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And, if you have listened, support our podcast, and post a review. Thank you!
The AuthorU – Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast is available on all major podcast channels. How cool is that? Listeners can tune into the weekly (always new – no repeats) show on:
Get the latest #AuthorU-Your Guide to #Book #Publishing #podcast with @MyBookShepherd via iTunes here: http://bit.ly/BookPublishingPodcast |
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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.
© 2026 Judith Briles, The Book Shepherd |
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