Latest NEWS from The Book Shepherd this week / become an Amazon bestseller

Practical Publishing Advice and Guidance for Authors

Create. Strategize. Develop. Publish. Achieve.

In this Issue

1. Author Tools … Discover Backup Buddy

2. Meet Author Help … Meet Author Friendly Fridays

3. AuthorU Program … Amazon workshop

4. Webinar Replay … ASK Judith on 3rd Friday Forward

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

6. Author Salons … February

7. Question of the week … Can I market my book without spending a fortune?

8. Smile time … Bridge Over Troubled Water

It was a frigid snowy weekend here in Colorado with minus temps. I had planned on two book signing days at Barnes & Noble. Saturday didn’t happen—at BN in Lakewood. Too much snow. Sunday was a different day. Still frigid weather, snow clearing. Signing books with me was author Rox Burkey, from Texas. As cold as it was, the store was busy and we sold over 50 books. A good day.

Surprise, surprise … I decided enough was enough and turned my Cooking with Judith cookbook in for layout. Done is done and good enough … to print next week.

Thinking of claiming Amazon bestseller status? Sign up for my first workshop sessions staring on February 5—for four consecutive Wednesday afternoons. Details below.

Smart Thoughts ... This week, Daniel Hall joins me on the AuthorU-Your Guide to Book Publishing podcast. It’s all about structuring a speech. Listen in only or watch and listen on my YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/@DrJudithBrilesTheBookShepherd/podcasts

Join Author Friendly Fridays: a fun, sharing, and dynamic closed group. 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 session starts: I share a few strategies, tips, and tools that attendees can immediately start to use. IMMEDIATELY! All share … and ask plenty of questions. They get answers. For authors, it’s the perfect 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!

Register here: https://thebookshepherd.com/author-friendly-fridays/

Proof could be your tipping point.

When Dr. Ronald Beach set forth with what he learned, his first book was more of a DIY in creating Amazon bestseller recognition … it made #1 … but only in one category and with a low download count for his book, The Virtual Divide. Why so low?—The answer … Ron didn’t complete an essential step.
His second book, The Virtual Bridge stepped forward to take a bow after completion of the workshop a second time. With all steps in place.

The results? Significant … setting the stage for an ongoing buzz.

The Virtual Divide had 200 downloads, ONE #1 category.
The Virtual Bridge had 1,089 downloads, FIFTEEN #1 categories.

As Ron says,
Just follow Judith's suggestions and guidance. The results are worth
all the hard work. She makes it happen.

Are you ready to claim bestseller status? To use it in shoutouts and marketing? To take the Amazon challenge?

The next Amazon Bestseller workshop starts on FEBRUARY 5TH for four consecutive Wednesdays from 4 pm 5.30 pm MT.

There is limited space, four spots left.
February 5, 12, 19, 26

Register HERE if you want results: https://bit.ly/AMZBestseller

The Book Shepherd, Judith Briles is YOURS for 60 minutes on Friday, January 10th to ask any question you have about book publishing, book marketing, writing a book ... or just getting a "little juice" to start your engines after the Holiday rush from the past few weeks.

Post your questions as soon as you come on ... Judith will come to you LIVE and bring you on the mic to respond to YOU and possibly ask additional questions.

It's 60 minutes to get ready for 2025... and why not? Grab your favorite beverage; just listen in ... or ASK, ASK, ASK! It's time to re-juice and rekindle your author energy!

Join Zoom Meeting – click on it or copy/paste
https://zoom.us/j/95000476418?pwd=3ZRTEhb1TDrTvzcjps9ov0r3Tpihbg.1

Passcode: will be sent

Add to Your Calendar: Friday, February 13th at 3 MT (2 PT, 5 CT, 5 ET)

Answer: In a word, YES. But you have to have the GOYT Factor in play—Get Off Your Tush. There are numerous free tools that you can use in promotion. There are also tools that have a financial cost to them. They will all involve your time to some degree. Some are work-work; many are a little work—lots of fun. Many of them, are identified each week within this newsletter at the top. Many, I personally demonstrate at my LIVE Unplugged events and within my private Friendly Friday coaching activity.

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.