Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / Anthropic Claims must be submitted by Monday

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

I create books authors never have to apologize for …

In this Issue

1. Discover and use ... Anthropic AI Settlement ends March 30 … Tick Tick Tock!

2. Meet ... Edit Partner Barb Wilson

3. Webinar … REPLAY Sell Your Books in Grocery Stores

4. Bestseller time … April brings Amazon Bestseller workshops.

5. Hot podcasts for March… Add to your calendar and listen

6. The Author Gatherings for Springtime … April, May, June

7. Question of the week … When should I set up an Author Central account?

8. Smile time … Happy Feet Dancing to I’m so Excited

On Friday, I cleared my deck … meaning winter went bye-bye. My deck can seat 24 comfortably for a dinner gathering. Off came all the covers on chairs and tables. Rugs laid down. Umbrellas stationed within their table sockets—and yup, they are purple! I’m a happy deck user.

On Tuesday, I had a large mug of hot tea and sat for a few minutes before my Zoom calls started. And then, the symphony of birds started their chorus. Tapping on the Merlin app on my phone, each was quickly identified … a total of eight! Now, to catch the sound of the one that reminds me of the Hunger Games Mockingjay… I love this time of my early morning. A treat.

It’s time to start saying goodbye to March and welcome in April and the promise of fresh green leaves. I love hearing the bees buzzing as they move up and down the willow shoots checking out the catkins for pollen.

In-Person sessions are moving to a quarterly status—the first Saturday of the month from 9 am to 11.30 am Mountain Time, my living room or deck when weather permits. They will have a meeting theme and sometimes a guest speaker.

2026: June 6, September 5, December 5
2027: March 6, June 5, September 4, December 4

The Online Zoom meetings will be held on the first Saturday on the month of the non-In-Person Saturdays and will run from 8-9.30 am MT. May 2nd will be an exception due to a BN Book Fair that starts at 9 am that morning.

2026: April 4, May 2 (7.30-8.30 only), July 4, August 1, October 3, November 7
2027: January 2, February 6, April 3, May 1, July 3, August 7, October 2, November 6

Judith Briles - The Book Shepherd is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93931497233?pwd=GPjy72qizD0mDsSlyFJb8wfq8A5bzx.1
https://bit.ly/AuthorGathering
Meeting ID: 939 3149 7233
Passcode: AU
There will be no Zoom meetings on in-person quarterly Author Gatherings.
Get on your calendars NOW.

My blog last week covered the Anthropic AI theft settlement, with claims due this Monday, March 30. The class action lawsuit against Anthropic involved 500,000 published books that were pirated to train AI.
https://thebookshepherd.com/it-started-with-an-ask/

Don’t forget … if becoming an Amazon bestseller is on your To Do list this year, get signed up for my next series of classes that starts in a week—details below. Starts on April 1 for four Wednesdays … not an April Fool’s joke! Remember, I keep these classes small so I can do individual coaching throughout the four weeks.

The dates are set for the 2027 Publishing at Sea. Leaving Miami on February 8 next year, it’s a six-night, seven-day event, with workshops on two of the days—the rest will enjoy the Caribbean sun and islands. Info is posted on the PublishingAtSea.com website. Check it out and join us.

1. March 26 Podcast ... Publicity Hound, Joan Stewart Publicity Basics

2. April 1, 8, 15, 22 ... Amazon Best Seller Workshops

3. April 2 - AI Hacks for Authors - Tom Antion

4. April 4 Author Gathering … Zoom only

5. April 9 - IP Protect for Authors, Part 1 - Colin O'Brien

6. April 11 - BN Book Fair, Lakewood

7. April 16 - IP Protect for Authors, Part 2 - Colin O'Brien

8. April 17 - Ask Judith Anything about Book marketing and Publishing

9. April 23 - Get Your Book Done - Dom Testa

10. April 25 - BN Book Fair, Fort Collins

11. April 26 - BN Book Fair, Colorado Blvd

12. May 2 - The Author Gathering … Zoom only

13. May 2 - BN Book Fair, Southlands

14. May 9 - BN Book Fair, Loveland

I post this in my Tuesday blog … you now have 5 days to verify if you were pirated and submit your claim for the Anthropic settlement.

Anthropic AI theft settlement claims must be submitted by Monday, March 30.

1. Are you an author whose work was lifted? Check here … just put your author name in or title of book: https://bit.ly/4slvIZE

2. If you are listed, you will need a “unique number” … call one of the Anthropic settlement agents (you will get a human). She or he will verify that you are on the list and give it to you. Call 877-206-2314

3. Submit on the Anthropic site—takes less than 5 minutes. Do not wait.

You are welcome.

Barb Wilson
Editing doesn’t need to be a painful, drawn-out process!

Website: www.editpartner.com
Phone: 989-284-8769 (EST)
Email: Barb@EditPartner.com

With over thirty years of experience in editing/proofreading, she has edited numerous books in all genres, from nonfiction to children’s stories to erotica. She specializes in developmental (content) edits and also offers additional services such as manuscript critiquing/evaluation, proofreading, and line edits. Her enthusiasm for the craft of writing and her positive approach to working through obstacles like writer’s block, POV problems, head-hopping, and plot arc issues will help you complete your project—while having less stress and more fun! Check out her web page at www.editpartner.com to see the variety of services currently offered. She can combine multiple services and customize them to fit your particular project needs.

Services: Currently offering content editing for fiction and non-fiction, detailed critiques, copy editing, and ghostwriting. Barb specializes in enhancing the flow, clarity, and power of your work, ensuring no reader will want to put it down. She believes a great editor/author relationship is based on collaboration, communication, and respect. Newbie authors more than welcome! Ask about a free sample edit. AuthorYOU members get 10% off of editing services.

Great evals came from yesterday’s webinar. The tech gremlins were out … but we got the core of the webinar completed before Microsoft’s update fairies decided that 3.35 pm was a good time to upgrade my computer. Here’s the replay.

The Authors in Grocery Stores program should have your attention.
REPLAY: https://vimeo.com/1176893354

Why it makes dollars and sense to add grocery stores to your book marketing mix.
How to be invited into the program.
What an author needs to have at a grocery signing event.
How to create your author book-selling tour.
How you get paid and how often.
Guidance.

Can you get results?
Can you grab #1 for more than an hour, like many of these campaigns?
Yes, YES you can. And so has EVERY participant in the Amazon Bestseller program. Every. One. Of. Them. Many are grabbing multiple spots on the international lists as well. Often, I decide to be a guinea pig myself, along with the rest of the participants who are on the quest, taking old books and dusting them off. New life happens … even dominoing to sales of print and audiobooks.

The bonus? I get behind your campaigning. Helping you rewrite your pushes and then promoting YOU on all my social media platforms. I’m part of your marketing team to make this happen.

One of the “power” points of the How to Create an Amazon Best Seller is to set EVERYTHING up weeks in advance so authors can continue with whatever their routine is … a “set it and forget it” strategy … which was what I positioned every participant to do and experience.

Some pooh-pooh Amazon bestseller status. Don’t. It does add credibility to your brag sheet. You can post on your details page on Amazon your achievement. You can write a press release. It will put a smile on your face. And who knows, you can fall in love with your book again and put energy behind it—bringing new life. That’s a good thing.

For this April’s class, I’ve got my eye on a possible combo of The Author’s Walk and How to Avoid Book Publishing Blunders … or just one of them. Typically in book stores, book buyers buy both.

Decision TIME for you … If you want to spend 90 minutes with me each Wednesday afternoon at 4 MT during January, register for How to Create an Amazon Best Seller. I would love to have you …

When—April 1, 8, 15, 22
Time—4 pm to 5.30 Mountain
Cost—$299
Alumni Cost—$150

REGISTER NOW: https://thebookshepherd.com/create-an-amazon-bestseller/

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.